When Hope Calls Season 2: Cast, Story & Everything We Know

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When Hope Calls

The spinoff series When Hope Calls has had a long and complicated path to the small screen, and here's everything to know about the show's season 2 return. Spinning off from the Hallmark Channel series When Calls the Heart, When Hope Calls concerns two sisters living in a Western Canadian town in the 1910s. While trying to rebuild their relationship, the orphaned sisters must also try to build bonds within the rugged frontier city of Brookfield. Rife with soft romance and Hallmark's family-friendly drama, When Hope Calls is the perfect extension of the Janette Oke novels that inspired the franchise.

Season 1 of When Hope Calls was a hit in 2019, and it was renewed for a second season. However, it would be more than two years before season 2 arrived, and a two-part Christmas special set the stage for what was to be the sophomore outing. More than three years have passed since the first two episodes aired, and the series promises eight more. With cast shakeups, a move to a new network, and a lengthy wait, When Hope Calls season 2 is one of the most beleaguered installments in TV history, but it's finally arriving soon.

When Hope Calls Season 2 Latest News

A Release Window Is Revealed For The Rest Of Season 2

Lillian and the children laugh while looking up in WHen Hope Calls

This means an April, May, or June release, but no one involved with the Great American Family exclusive has offered a narrower window.

More than three years after the two-part Christmas special kicked off season 2, the latest news confirms a release window for When Hope Calls' return. While previous reports suggested the show would come back in January 2025, those have proven to be false. Now, it has been confirmed that When Hope Calls season 2 will come back in the second quarter of 2025. This means an April, May, or June release, but no one involved with the Great American Family exclusive has offered a narrower window.

Little is known about the show's production timeline, though it can be assumed that things are nearly wrapped up if a Q2 release is planned. What also remains to be seen is if When Hope Calls will be able to carry the same audience after such an extended wait. Its predecessor, When Calls the Heart, is still airing, which likely means that there is still an audience for the long-awaited sophomore season.

When Hope Calls Season 2 Is Confirmed

The Season Technically Started In 2021

Abigail and Lillian smile while looking on in When Hope Calls

After proving itself to be a smash-hit spinoff, When Hope Calls was actually renewed for a second season all the way back in 2021 after more than a year of waiting. The renewal came only a few months before season 2 technically started with the premiere of a two-part Christmas special in December 2021. Things would go silent for years as the spinoff languished in limbo and was seemingly never going to return. However, Deadline reported (in September 2024) that the series was gunning for a January 2025 premiere.

"A Country Christmas, Part One" and "Part Two" debuted on December 18, 2021.

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This proved to be inaccurate, and the release window has now been stretched to quarter 2 (April, May, or June) in the same year. It seems much more likely that When Hope Calls will hit that window, but there's been no clarification as to why the January date was wrong. It could be that the news outlets simply misreported the information, or that production delays forced them off the January mark. Either way, the final eight episodes of season 2 are still expected to come at some point in 2025.

When Hope Calls Season 2 Cast Details

Some Newcomers & One Major Departure

Though it happened several years ago at this point, the cast of When Hope Calls season 2 is going to be quite different from its predecessor thanks to the departure of Jocelyn Hudon as one half of the orphaned sisters, Grace Bennett. Grace left for London in the season 1 finale, and the Christmas specials confirmed that she was staying across the pond. Greg Hovanessian's Chuck Stewart also left town following Grace's departure. This thinned the ensemble somewhat, though it also opened the door for new arrivals as well.

Alongside returning stars like Morgan Kohan as Lillian Walsh, and Ryan-James Hatanaka as Gabe, season 2's Christmas specials also introduced Full House star Lori Loughlin as Abigail Stanton. Loughlin previously played the role of Stanton in the series When Calls the Heart, and her return is When Hope Calls was her first on-screen appearance following the 2019 college admissions bribery scandal and her subsequent arrest. She isn't the only newcomer, and Cindy Busby is cast as Nora, while Christopher Russell portrays a mountie named Michael.

The cast of When Hope Calls season 2 includes:

Actor

When Hope Calls Role

Morgan Kohan	Lillian Walsh
Ryan-James Hatanaka	Gabe Kinslow
Wendy Crewson	Tess Stewart
Hanneke Talbot	Maggie Parsons
Marshall Williams	Sam Tremblay
Neil Crone	Ronnie Stewart
Lori Loughlin	Abigail Stanton
Cindy Busby	Nora
Christopher Russell	Michael

When Hope Calls Season 2 Story Details

What's Next For The Town Of Brookfield?

The main couple, Lily and Gabe, of When Hope Calls

The Christmas specials may not have done much to move the plot along, but they did introduce Abigail Stanton and her immediate positive impact. This will likely continue in the bulk of season 2 as she helps out with the orphans and gives Lillian assistance following the departure of her sister, Grace, to London. Season 2 will also likely fully explore Lillian's reaction to losing her sister once again, and she'll no doubt feel somewhat fragile considering her upbringing. This gives Brookfield an opportunity to rally around her once again.

On top of that, Brookfield has a new constable from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and it's unclear how Michael will fit into the town's dynamic. Season 2 also opens the door for more characters to take center stage, and one season was simply not enough to establish the fascinating town of Brookfield during the last days of the Wild West in Canada.

Beneath the town drama, the relationship between Lillian and Gabriel is the heart of the show, and it's expected that they'll hit a few bumps along the way. While nothing too serious should happen, When Hope Calls season 2 is expected to deliver much of the same cozy drama that was found in season 1 and the Christmas specials. As long as the show can find itself on a consistent schedule, the spinoff could become just as successful as its predecessor.

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When Hope Calls follows sisters Lillian and Grace as they establish an orphanage in the 1916 Western town of Brookfield. They navigate the tensions between cattle ranchers and the town's development, seeking romance and happiness while facing challenges in caring for the children.

Release Date August 30, 2019

Network Hallmark Movies Now , GAC Family

Cast Morgan Kohan , Ryan-James Hatanaka , Greg Hovanessian , Wendy Crewson , Rob Stewart , Cindy Busby , Carter Evancic , Jocelyn Hudon , Christopher Russell , Nick Bateman , Trevor Donovan , Hanneke Talbot , Jefferson Brown , Ava Weiss , Liam MacDonald , Hannah Emily Anderson

Character(s) Lillian Bennett , Gabriel Clark , Chuck Stewart , Tess Stewart , Tom Clay , Nora , Cody , Grace Bennett , Constable Mountie Michael , Wyatt , Constable Jim Reynolds , Maggie Parsons , Joe Moody , Mary Louise , Vincent , Eve Chantrel

Producers Brian Bird , Amy Krell , Brad Krevoy , Cara J. Russell

Seasons 2

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