Hallmark+ began streaming the first episode of Hope Valley: 1874, starring Benjamin Ayres and Bethany Joy Lenz, with new episodes releasing on Thursdays starting March 26. The series is a prequel to When Calls the Heart.

The initial season consists of eight episodes. Ayres said that launching a brand new series involved the difficult tasks of introducing all the characters and the show's world, bringing in outside forces to create chaos, and having the main group band together to solve problems.

Ayres and Lenz, who have both appeared in multiple Hallmark network productions, developed their on-screen relationship through preparation before filming began. "We definitely went out for some dinners and had lots of phone calls to get to know each other and to determine the relationship that we wanted to protect and portray onscreen, as well as to make sure we were on board with being able to make changes on the day, suggestions, and really kind of be there for one another," Ayres said.

"So if there's something specifically she needs from me, I just say, 'Tell me what you need and I will give you whatever you need,'" he said. "It's been just an absolute pleasure to work with her."

"I think we've developed a really beautiful, mature relationship for the characters on the show," he said.

Lenz said that becoming friends with Ayres during production made working together easier and gave their communication a shorthand. She likened their dynamic to lightning in a bottle.

"We're just there to get the job done and it's a real blessing. I feel so lucky that we got Ben to be a part of this," Lenz said. She called Ayres "a great collaborator" who is "really smart and has really good ideas."

The season concludes with unresolved storylines. "There's one major arc throughout the season that ends on a cliffhanger, so you better hope for at least a Season 2, Episode 1 to figure out what is happening," Ayres said.

Lenz characterized the first season as groundwork for potential future episodes. "But no, this does not feel complete. It feels like a really good start. It's fertile soil, so we have a lot of space to grow," she said. Both actors expressed interest in the series continuing beyond its initial run.