There's finally an update on When Hope Calls (and it's good news)

After three years of wondering, we finally have an update about the When Calls the Heart spinoff series, When Hope Calls.

The series originally aired its 10-episode first season on Hallmark back in 2019. It then moved to Great American Family, a new network, and brought two Christmas-themed episodes. It looked like there was some hope that the show would be renewed, and then we got silence.

A lot of silence. It’s been three years since we’ve heard anything about the series, but TVLine finally has an update.

When Hope Calls Season 2 will happen but there will be changes

In the Christmas episodes, we learned that there would be changes. After the move, Jocelyn Hudson didn’t return. In the When Hope Calls Season 1 finale, her character, Grace Bennett left for London. It was only supposed to be temporary, but when Hudson didn’t return, it was easy to write out the character. She found a new life in London and chose to stay there.

Considering the series is set in 1916, that’s not too surprising. It wasn’t as easy to go back and forth between continents at this time, so if someone set up a life, they were more likely to stay.

Greg Hovanessian also didn’t return as Chuck. Again, that makes sense as he was Grace’s love interest and without Grace, there was less need to keep him around. He went off to pastures new.

What to expect in When Hope Calls Season 2

So, where can we see the second season going? Sullivan’s Crossing Morgan Kohan is supposed to return, despite working on her own series. Ryan-James Hatanaka, who plays Lillian’s love interest Gabriel, is also set to return to the series. The first set of episodes will “pay homage to the romance” between the two of these characters.

There will be new characters introduced though. When Hope Calls is focused on the orphanage, and that’s the way the second season will go. We’ll get to see the children, the farms and ranch lands around the orphanage, and the town as a whole.

We’ll meet Nora, Michael, and Wyatt played by Cindy Busby, Christopher Russell, and Nick Bateman respectively. Wendy Crewson and Henneke Talbot are also expected to return as Tess and Maggie.

Lori Laughlin is not on the list of cast members to return. She reprised her When Calls the Heart role in the series during the Christmas specials, despite the controversy around the college bribe scandal. It’s not clear why she isn’t coming back for the second season.

Stay tuned to Claire and Jamie for the latest updates on your favorite romance, historical fiction, and time travel dramas.