When Calls the Heart’s Daniel Lissing Makes Hallmark Return After Season 11 Cliffhanger
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Although Jack Thornton was killed off back in Season 5, his presence is still felt on When Calls the Heart and he is frequently talked about by the residents of Hope Valley. Fans have always hoped that he would return to the show in some capacity, but after the Season 11 finale and its cliffhanger ending, this might actually be a possibility. Is Jack coming back to When Calls the Heart? We have the answer below.
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Is Jack coming back to When Calls the Heart?
Following the Season 11 finale, which aired on June 23, fans are convinced that Jack is coming back to When Calls the Heart, and they have some interesting theories as to how he could return.
At the very end of the episode, Elizabeth (Erin Krakow) and Nathan Grant (Kevin MGarry), who are officially back together, were approached by Superintendent Hargraves (David James Lewis). Hargraves was Nathan’s superior officer at Fort Clay and the man who suspended him from the mission that ultimately killed Elizabeth’s late husband Jack Thornton (Daniel Lissing). Since Nathan had to sit out, Jack took his spot in the mission and was tragically killed by a landslide. Feeling responsible for his death, Nathan then transferred to Hope Valley to look after Elizabeth and her son, Jack Jr.
Hargraves has not been seen on the show since Season 8, when Nathan’s connection to Jack first came to light and caused him and Elizabeth to breakup. When fans same him appear on-screen again, they instantly knew it would mean trouble for the couple, who finally found their way back to each other after a full season of build up and romantic tension.
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Nathan assumed Hargraves was there to see him, but as it turns out, he had come to Hope Valley to talk to Elizabeth. “I’m not here to see you Constable,” he told Nathan, before turning to Elizabeth and saying: “Mrs. Thornton, it’s about your late husband.” Hargraves also mentioned that the matter can’t wait and needs to be discussed in private.
In classic WCTH fashion, the credits rolled before viewers could learn what news Hargraves had for Elizabeth, but Hearties everywhere have already begun to theorize that Jack may not actually be dead. “They buried A body. Not sure it was Jack,” one fan wrote in a Reddit thread after the episode aired. Another fan added: “I think WCTH is cowardly for not entertaining the idea/ theory Jack is alive and out there: either with amnesia or brain damage or mistaken identity caused by trauma, something!” A third fan agreed that Jack could be alive, but noted: “I was hoping the same thing. But since he said ‘late,’ maybe they found Jack’s body?”
Another view theorized that he will show up in Season 12 in a flashback scene. “Hargreaves said ‘late husband.’ At last year’s Hearties Homecoming, [executive producer Elizabeth Sturman] and the writers talked about the need to revisit and wrap up the Ft Clay stuff. It’s very possible there will be flashback scenes and Dan might be in them, but Jack is still deceased.”
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One Heartie suggested a completely different theory, writing: “Let’s run with the theory that Jack actually is dead … maybe the news is that Jack was deliberately killed, or someone had it out for Jack and they have a confession after all these years (and they never notified Elizabeth until they had all the facts).”
During our conversation with Krakow ahead of the finale, the actress kept mum about what the cliffhanger could mean, but promised that it will be addressed in Season 12. “We’re not just going to pretend like that conversation at the end didn’t happen, so we will address it,” she told us. “Where it goes from there, you gotta tune in to find out.”
While it’s unlikely that Jack will be resurrected, we could see him returning for a few flashback scenes since Daniel Lissing has expressed interest in returning to the series. “That would be so much fun,” he told Entertainment Tonight in 2020 when asked if he was open to reprising his role. “Of course. Just to go up there and see everyone again. I could see my old horse …. Look, if Hallmark called me for anything, I’d be there. They were there for me for five years so of course, I love those guys, so anytime.”
Viewers will just have to wait until Season 12 to see if Jack returns, but in the meantime, Lissing and Krakow are reuniting for a Hallmark holiday movie titled Santa Tell Me. The movie marks their first time sharing the screen together since Lissing left the show and it is set to air during the network’s Countdown to Christmas special in late 2024. The first promo was released one the same day as WCTH‘s Season 11 finale and fans instantly flooded the comments section. “CAN’T WAIT for this beautiful couple, Erin Krakow and Daniel Lissing, to be reunited in a movie. Hope the script calls for lots of kissing between them. Miss Daniel in WCTH,” one fan wrote.
“It’s such a fantastic script. It’s so fun. There’s a lot of magical elements and reuniting with Dan was great,” Krakow told us of the project. “We hadn’t worked together in, obviously, many years, and that was just so lovely. I’m excited to get to share it with the fans.”
When Calls the Heart is available to stream on Peacock.
Watch ‘When Calls the Heart’ on Peacock
For more on When Calls the Heart, check out what alums of the show, including Daniel Lissing, are up to today in the gallery below.
