‘When Calls the Heart’ Insiders Tease ‘Changes’ for Lee & Rosemary’s Family & Big Lucas Storyline in Season 13

Changes are coming to season 13 of “When Calls the Heart,” a showrunner and writer are hinting to fans. One of these changes involves Rosemary’s family. And another involves a big storyline for Lucas.

Something Will Happen to Rosemary & Lee’s Family

During The Official Hearties Aftershow, new showrunner Joy Gregory shared some fascinating tidbits about what to expect in the new season that premieres in 2026.

“We’ll have Rosemary continue her business ventures, but there will be a small change in her family too,” Gregory teased. “And we’ll see how that challenges her and Lee. Intrigue, intrigue.”

The Writers Have ‘Fun in Store’ for Lucas

In a separate interview with the Official Hearties Aftershow, writer Allie Deveraux dropped hints about another favorite character’s future: Lucas.

“Well I don’t want to get too specific, because I certainly wouldn’t want to spoil the pleasure of discovering the great fun we have in store for Lucas,” Deveraux said. “I love what we’re planning for him. I’m so excited. He’s not going anywhere. He’s an essential part of Hope Valley and we’re going to bring him back and weave him into the life of the town in personal and professional ways that are going to be really satisfying.”

Last season, Lucas grew closer to Edie, an attorney who is new to the show. The two had a number of scenes together and while they started out on opposing sides, they ended up helping each other solve a big mystery.

It seems that Lucas has moved on after his breakup from Elizabeth at the end of season 10.

Screenwriter Derek Thompson, in an interview with the Official Hearties podcast, shared what it was like to write that controversial scene.

“I think I wrote that scene 30 times,” Thompson said. “It was just one of those scenes that everyone was gonna have interest and input, and it was going to change right down to the day they shot, because it was so important. And so hard to do.”

Thompson said he wanted to make sure he honored both characters when writing the breakup.

“It was a difficult situation,” he said. “And good reasoning for everything. But it was really hard to do. And so just like a real breakup, no great way to do it.”

“The Edify After Show” hosted an interview with then-showrunner Lindsay Sturman and executive producer Brian Brid about the scene. Sturman said the characters’ futures were diverging and they decided to lean into it.

“Sometimes the stories really reveal themselves,” she said. “They were on different journeys. Elizabeth and Lucas had different destinies. And how do we follow those?”