‘When Calls the Heart’ Cast Gets to Work on Season 12

Production is underway on the 12th season of Hallmark Channel's 'When Calls the Heart.'

It’s been less than a month since the dramatic – and romantic – conclusion to When Calls the Heart Season 11. But the show’s cast is already hard at work on the next installment of the frontier period drama, which is due to air sometime in 2025 on Hallmark Channel.

Erin Krakow, Kevin McGarry are back at work on ‘When Calls the Heart’

Hallmark announced in May that it had renewed its longest-running original series for a 12th season, with production set to begin in July in Canada. Recently, several of the show’s cast have shared social media updates confirming that they’re once again getting ready to bring the world of Hope Valley to life.

Series star Erin Krakow, who plays Elizabeth Thornton, continued her tradition of sharing a photo of herself headed back to set. “#PlaneSelfieNotAPlainSelfie,” she captioned the July 2024 Instagram post.

“It’s time,” commented fellow cast member Andrea Brooks on Krakow’s post. The actor, who plays Dr. Faith Carter, has also shared some behind-the-scenes snaps from her season 12 wardrobe fitting on her own Instagram.

Kevin McGarry, who plays Elizabeth’s love interest, Mountie Nathan Grant, shared a quick look at himself in his trailer on July 15. “It begins…WCTH12,” he captioned the video posted to his Instagram story.

Jack Wagner, who plays Bill Avery, also shared an Instagram update from the airport. “Season 12, When Calls the Heart,” he said, as he prepared to board his flight to Vancouver. “Amazing. Very grateful. Thanks to you. Much love.”

What to expect from ‘When Calls the Heart’ Season 12

When Calls the Heart Season 12 will open immediately after season 11’s finale cliffhanger. That episode ended with a mountie riding into town and telling a stunned Elizabeth – who had just shared a kiss with Nathan – that he had some news regarding her late husband Jack.

“It picks right up from that moment, that scene,” showrunner Lindsay Sturman told TV Guide.

Could the specter of Jack put the brakes on Elizabeth and Nathan’s burgeoning relationship? It will definitely cause some issues, McGarry said.

The message about Jack “leads right into the early problems of what’s going to happen in Season 12,” he told TV Guide. “Finally they get to the honeymoon phase – I don’t want to say it’s cut short because we’re still going to see it blossom – but there’s definitely a big boulder thrown right in their way in the last couple seconds of season 11. We’ll see how Elizabeth takes it, where she stands with it all.”

What about Elizabeth’s former fiancé, Lucas (Chris McNally)? In season 12, he’ll continue to navigate his complicated role as governor. Next season he’ll “step into bigger shoes and [grow] into being a leader,” Sturman said. He might even find time for romance.

“​​Let’s just say, love may be in Lucas’ future,” Sturman teased.

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