Daniel Lissing to Return as Jack Thornton in ‘When Hope Calls’ Season 2, Photo Confirms
We’re getting more details about Daniel Lissing’s highly-anticipated appearance in When Hope Calls Season 2. A just-released photo from the show’s upcoming Christmas special confirms fan speculation that the Australian actor will reprise his role as Jack Thornton from When Calls the Heart.
New photo confirms Jack Thornton’s return in ‘When Hope Calls’ Christmas special
In September 2021, GAC Family announced it would be bringing back When Calls the Heart spinoff When Hope Calls for a surprise second season. Soon after, the network revealed Lissing would make a guest appearance in the show’s two-part Christmas special, which will also serve as the season 2 premiere.
At the time, the network didn’t reveal any details about what character Lissing would play. But a new photo shared with ET seems to confirm that he’ll again be donning the red serge to play Mountie Jack Thornton. The image shows former When Calls the Heart cast member Lori Loughlin as Abigail Stanton. She’s standing in front of a mountie and looking shocked. While you can’t see the man’s face, ET reports it is Jack.
Will Jack return as a ghost or in a dream in ‘When Hope Calls’?
Lissing played Jack on When Calls the Heart from 2014 to 2018. His character was killed off at the end of season 5. That broke the hearts of both his onscreen wife Elizabeth (Erin Krakow) and the show’s devoted fans.
Hearties reacted to the news of Jack’s unexpected return to the When Calls the Heart universe with enthusiasm. But many also had questions. Given that Jack was dead, how would When Hope Calls explain his sudden reappearance? Initially, some suspected Lissing might appear as an entirely new character. Now that we know he’ll be playing Jack, it seems more likely that he’ll appear in a dream sequence or as a ghost, though that hasn’t been confirmed. However, ET has revealed that Lissing’s appearance will be brief. He’ll have a cameo in a single scene.
Daniel Lissing says he’s looking forward to working with Lori Loughlin again
Though it’s been several years since he last played Jack, Lissing said he was looking forward to working with his former co-star Loughlin again. Like Lissing, Loughlin will be making a special guest appearance in When Hope Calls: A Country Christmas.
“I’m excited to be invited to participate in the season 2 premiere of When Hope Calls,” Lissing told ET after his casting was announced. “I’m also very much looking forward to meeting the When Hope Calls team and to be working with my friend Lori again.”
When Hope Calls: A Country Christmas airs Saturday, Dec. 18 at 8 p.m. ET on GAC Family.
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