Hope Valley: 1874 Season 1 Episode 1
Hallmark+ expands the world of Hope Valley with its newest original series, Hope Valley: 1874, premiering Saturday, March 21, with new episodes arriving every Thursday beginning March 26. Serving as a prequel to When Calls the Heart, this series takes us back to the early days of the frontier, where life is uncertain, demanding, and far from the charm we’ve come to know. Bethany Joy Lenz stars as Rebecca Clarke, a mother determined to build a new life for herself and her young daughter, only to find that the boardinghouse she’s purchased is not what she expected. With the help of local rancher Tom Moore (Benjamin Ayres), Rebecca must navigate the realities of frontier life – resilience, community, and sacrifice.
Hope Valley: 1874 premieres on Saturday, March 21, 2026, only on Hallmark+ – with new episodes streaming on Thursdays beginning March 26th.
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About
- The series was created by Alfonso H. Moreno, a writer and producer with deep ties to the Hope Valley world. He’s written for both When Calls the Heart and When Hope Calls, where he’s also served as a longtime executive producer. His other writing credits include Drop Dead Diva, NCIS, and The Practice.
- Episode 1 was written by Alfonso H. Moreno, and the series draws inspiration from the novel When Calls the Heart by Janette Oke.
- Episode 1 is directed by Mike Rohl, who brings an extensive resume, including the recent season of When Calls the Heart. Some of his other Hallmark credits include Falling Together and both Cases of Mystery Lane films.
- Bethany Joy Lenz stars as Rebecca Clarke. Hallmark viewers will know her from favorites like Savoring Paris, A Biltmore Christmas, and An Unexpected Christmas, while she’s also had a long career across television and film, most notably for her role as Haley James Scott on One Tree Hill, where she appeared in 187 episodes.
- Benjamin Ayres plays Tom Moore. A familiar face to Hallmark viewers, he’s appeared in a wide range of fan favorites, including The Santa Class, Santa Tell Me, and the fan-favorite Cranberry Christmas, and most recently popped up in Mistletoe Murders in 2025. He’s also set to return in the upcoming True Justice sequels.
- Jill Hennessy is a seasoned actress best known for her starring role as Dr. Jordan Cavanaugh on Crossing Jordan, along with a long career across television and film. This marks a rare appearance for her in a Hallmark project.
- Roan Curtis plays Olivia Quinn. With a growing list of credits, she’s appeared in Hallmark’s The More Love Grows(2023) and is also known for her role as Young Kate in Firefly Lane.
- Lachlan Quarmby plays Alexander Vaughn. Hallmark fans may recognize him from Providence Falls, and it’s exciting to see him return to the network in this new role.
- Mila Morgan plays daughter Sarah Clarke. This young actress has just 9 previous acting credits which include Christmas as the Catnip Cafe, The Holiday Sitter, and North to Home.
- The opening theme, “Hope in the Valley,” is performed by Bethany Joy Lenz, who also wrote and composed the song.
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