Now that Season 10 is over and done with, Hearties are left with endless questions about When Calls the Heart Season 11’s release date and what will happen next in Hope Valley. Well, we at least have one of those answers.
When Calls the Heart is Hallmark’s drama series following the residents of Hope Valley (previously known as Coal Valley), a small town in Western Canada. The series, which was based on Janette Oke’s book of the same name and started as a Hallmark original movie in October 2013, centers around Elizabeth Thatcher, a young teacher accustomed to high-society life who moves to Hope Valley to teach her first classroom.
When Calls the Heart Season 10 aired its finale on October 15, 2023, with a major cliffhanger for Hope Valley’s newest love triangle: Elizabeth; her ex-fiance, Lucas Bouchard; and he other ex, mountie Nathan Grant. The cliffhanger mainly revolved around Lucas, who won the election for governor over the corrupt Bixby Balfour at the cost of his relationship with Elizabeth. As viewers wondered whether Lucas would leave Hope Valley for Capital City now that he was governor, Hope Valley’s judge, Bill Avery, delivers a major shock that Lucas is in trouble.
Only When Calls the Heart Season 11 can answer the question of what happens to Lucas. But when can we see the residents of Hope Valley again and what is When Calls the Heart Season 11’s release date? Read on for what we know.
When is When Calls the Heart Season 11’s release date?
When is When Calls the Heart Season 11’s release date? When Calls the Heart will return for Season 11 on April 7, 2024 on Hallmark Channel. The series confirmed the return date with an Instagram post in January 2024.
“BREAKING NEWS! When Calls the Heart Season Eleven will premiere on @hallmarkchannel on April 7th! Mark your calendars now! Be sure to head to our Instagram Story for the link to the Entertainment Tonight article to read the full scoop and see another ET exclusive photo!! #WhenCallsTheHeart #Hearties #SeasonEleven,” the post read.
The post also included a photo of Elizabeth Thatcher (Erin Krakow) and Nathan Grant (Kevin McGarry) looking lovingly at each other with the tagline, “The heaart of something new,” which seems to confirm Elizabeth’s choice in her love triangle between her, Nathan, and Lucas Bouchard (Chris McNally) at the end of When Calls the Heart Season 10.
The premiere date follows the same pattern as the earlier seasons of When Calls the Heart. Season 1 premiered in January; Season 2 premiered in April; while Seasons 3 through 8 premiered in February. Season 9 premiered in March; and Season 10 premiered in July. Unlike other television productions, which paused filming amid the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes, When Calls the Heart was allowed to continue filming for Season 11 due to a waiver approved by the SAG-AFTRA union, according to Deadline.
This means that Season 11 likely won’t be delayed. According to the SAG-AFTRA’s website, productions that qualify as “independently produced content” were able to apply for an interim agreement that allows series to resume production without being in violation of the strike.
When Calls the Heart was renewed for an 11th season in February 2023, five months before Season 10 premiered. Erin Krakow, who has played Elizabeth since Season 1, confirmed in an Instagram post in February 2023 that she was returning to When Calls the Heart for Season 11, which has already started filming. “@wcth_tv Season 11! I’m over the moon!” she captioned a screenshot of a news story about When Calls the Heart‘s renewal for Season 11.
Krakow also confirmed her return to When Calls the Heart Season 11 in an interview with TV Insider in June 2023. “It’s huge news,” Krakow said of the pickup for Season 11. “We’re thrilled, and it’s like everyone can kind of just relax and enjoy Season 10 and not have to worry about getting the Season 11 because quite frankly, we’ll already be filming it.”
What will When Calls the Heart Season 11 be about?
What will When Calls the Heart Season 11 be about? In an interview with Entertainment Tonight after the When Calls the Heart Season 10 finale, showrunner Lindsay Sturman confirmed that Lucas — who seemed to be in danger in the Season 10 finale after he was elected as governor — will return Season 11. “We can assure everyone that Lucas is back for season 11. He’s a huge part of Hope Valley and always will be. But there’s definitely a cliffhanger and a few mysteries packed in there, and it will all be revealed next season,” Sturman said.
While Sturman confirmed that Lucas’ return, she didn’t reveal if he’ll move to Capital City now that he’s elected governor or stay in Hope Valley, which could affect how much he’s in the upcoming season. “All we can say is Lucas is a huge part of season 11,” she said.
Sturman also explained if there’s any chance Elizabeth and Lucas could get back together after their breakup in the When Calls the Heart Season 10 finale. “Everything we saw was real. The love between Elizabeth and Lucas was always real and authentic,” Sturman said. “But as the wedding drew closer, Elizabeth started to face down what this momentous step would mean for her, and as the threat to Hope Valley became more and more real, what it would mean for Little Jack?”
She continued, “All this is happening as Hope Valley is in peril and the world is crashing down around Lucas, Elizabeth and the rest of the town, forcing Lucas to step up to save the town. Elizabeth always knew deep down that Lucas had the capacity to be a hero, even before he saw it in himself.
Their paths start to diverge as he is forced to step up onto a bigger stage to save Hope Valley, and Elizabeth realizes that the life she wants is very different. Her whole world has been, and perhaps always will be, Hope Valley.”
Sturman also teased the chances Elizabeth and Nathan could get back together in When Calls the Heart Season 11. “They are friends, and good friends have frank talks with each other,” she said. “Additionally, Elizabeth is still processing everything that happened with her engagement, which was an echo of processing all the loss that followed her first wedding.
Elizabeth and Nathan have each found their way back to that spot, which hearties know is significant from their past. They’re confused, and in a stew of emotion, but when Bill comes rushing in, all of their energy is focused on Lucas.”
She also hinted at how Nathan and Elizabeth’s reunion could affect their relationships with Lucas. “Whether or not that happens in the future is hard to tell at this point, and would be in spoiler land. But no matter what, their friendship now means more to them than they ever realized,” she said.
Sturman also acknowledged backlash from Hearties who criticized When Calls the Heart for breaking up Elizabeth and Lucas in Season 10. “We know the last few episodes were tough for some fans, and we are grateful for the kind messages the Hearties are sharing with each other, and the thoughtful and insightful conversations they have sparked,” Sturman said. “Elizabeth has always followed her heart, even when it isn’t easy.
She’s learning to overcome old fears and open her heart to new possibilities. Hearties wouldn’t let us know their feelings, whether for or against any of our storytelling, if they didn’t care so much about Hope Valley. Very few television shows ever experience that much passion, and we will be forever grateful for it and the Hearties.”
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