Lori Loughlin Reprises WCTH Role on WHEN HOPE CALLS
By Movieguide® Staff
Hallmark and fans of WHEN CALLS THE HEART had to say goodbye to actress Lori Loughlin due to her college admissions scandal and prison sentence.
However, after Loughlin’s release and news that a federal judge in Boston granted her travel permissions, fans will have an answer – Loughlin is reprising her role as Abigail in Season 2 of the WCTH spin-off, WHEN HOPE CALLS.
According to Deadline,
Having Loughlin on board for the Season 2 premiere in her return to acting after a year and a half is certain to bring attention to When Hope Calls — as well as GAC Family, which launched yesterday, Sept. 27 with the tagline “Stories Well Told.” Formerly Great American Country, the newly rebranded channel is run by President & CEO Bill Abbott, former CEO of Hallmark Channel parent Crown Media Family Networks, who is taking a page out of his old playbook in shaping GAC Family’s brand as a home of family-friendly, holiday-themed movies and series.
Season 2 of When Hope Calls, whose first season aired as the first original on Hallmark Channel’s streaming service Hallmark Movies Now, marks the first original series for GAC Family. Series’ star Morgan Kohan is back, reprising her role as Lillian Walsh, with additional cast, believed to include RJ Hatanaka, to be announced soon.
The announcement comes after reports confirmed that the actress was granted a trip to Canada for an unnamed “filming production project.”
The FULL HOUSE alum requested a week out of the country, but the specific location is unknown.
The Boston Herald reported:
Loughlin said she needed the judge’s permission first before the cameras could roll. “Ms. Loughlin anticipates she will be traveling for about one week” and “being offered a filming production project” if allowed to go, her request sent by a probation official states.
Despite Loughlin’s departure from the show due to her illegal activity, both WCTH star Erin Krakow and creator Brian Bird have expressed their desire for their friend to return.
Movieguide® previously reported:
WHEN CALLS THE HEART star Erin Krakow hopes that former co-star Lori Loughlin will return to Hope Valley. Hallmark dropped Loughlin in 2019 after the actress was convicted of paying bribes during the college admissions scandal.
“Well, I sure hope so,” Krakow told Fox News. “Real life Abigail is one of my dearest friends. Her name still hangs on a sign above the cafe. She will always be an incredibly important part of ‘When Calls the Heart.’ I would love to see her character back in Hope Valley again. We’ve got a lot more exciting stories that we could tell with her.”
Movguide® also reported:
Before the scandal, Loughlin was a fan-favorite of Hearties, and many questioned if she could make a return to the show.
“I personally would love nothing more than that happening in the Hope Valley. Whether or not we can do it is another question,” Bird said of Loughlin returning to WHEN CALLS THE HEART. “There’s a lot of moving parts to it, there’s a lot of other stakeholders besides me who would have to say yes to that. And so I can’t say with certainty that we can pull that off. I hope we can. If anyone should return to Hope Valley, it would be Abigail, in my opinion. That’s the kind of show we are.”
In a separate interview, the show’s titular Erin Krakow also expressed her desire for Loughlin to return.
However, through the ups and downs of the show, Bird says he is focused on God’s plan and not his plan.
“We have always just put one foot in front of each other on this show. It’s a labor of love. It’s an act of faith that we have been able to get the show on television anyway. So I don’t put anything past God on this. But I’m also smart enough to know not to direct His plans,” Bird said.
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Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
