When Calls the Heart has some competition.
At TV Fanatic, we’ve been actively discussing bringing hopeful content back to TV, and it appears others share our desire.
Today, Angel Studios announced their series, Home to Harmony, will begin production in 2025.
The series is an episodic drama based on the best-selling book series by Philip Gulley.
Michael Landon Jr. and Brian Bird, creators of When Calls the Heart, are at the heart of Home to Harmony. They will be joined by Ken LaZebnik, the co-writer of Praire Home Companion, the Movie.
“The Angel Guild enthusiastically approved the proof of concept torch for Home to Harmony,” said Jared Geesey, Chief Distribution Officer at Angel Studios.
“Our audience is eager to support exceptional quality entertainment that the whole family can enjoy together. Home to Harmony checks all the boxes, and we couldn’t be more honored to work with these incredible storytellers.”
Here’s the official logline:
Home to Harmony is the contemporary story of former Brooklyn pastor Sam Gardner, who, after the death of his wife, returns to his quirky Harmony, Indiana, hometown with his two children to take over his boyhood congregation.
Throughout the journey, he rediscovers his passion for serving others and his capacity for love, particularly for his childhood crush, Deena Morrison, a lawyer and single mother.
Together, they must navigate the challenges of reconciling Sam’s faith with Deena’s pragmatic approach to life while resisting the pull of their budding romance.
Their connection could be the key to saving Harmony one person at a time — all the while battling a corrupt mayor who is secretly trying to turn Harmony into a Hoosier Atlantic City.
The series is in the beginning stages of casting, and pre-production is expected to begin in early 2025.
Michael Landon Jr., son of the legendary TV and film icon Michael Landon, has made a significant mark on the film industry over the past 30 years.
He wrote, directed, and produced the two-hour movie that launched the hit Hallmark Channel series When Calls the Heart.
In addition, Landon has also written, directed, and produced over two dozen films and co-authored four published novels, with a fifth set to release in Spring 2025.
“When Calls the Heart gave birth to a passionate grassroots movement of several million fans who call themselves ‘Hearties,’” said Landon.
“This dedicated community seeks to see their values represented on TV and in the movie theaters. And we are committed to continuing to deliver them hope, faith, and love.”
Ken LaZebnik is a television writer, screenwriter, and playwright. Over the past 25 years, he has written over 100 hours of network television (including Touched by an Angel) and has also written for many seasons of Garrison Keillor’s radio show, A Prairie Home Companion.
With Keillor, he co-wrote Robert Altman’s last film, based on the radio show, as well as the popular holiday film Thomas Kinkade’s The Christmas Cottage.
“Phil Gulley’s Harmony books are full of Humor, Emotion, Romance and Optimism,” said LaZebnik. “And we love the acronym H.E.R.O. because those dynamics provide us everything we need for doing a series that brings the audience all the feels.”
Brian Bird is the executive producer and co-developer of When Calls the Heart, now filming its 12th season.
With writing and/or production credits on nearly three dozen films (including The Case for Christ and The Ultimate Life) and 450 episodes of television (including Touched by an Angel and When Hope Calls) in his resume, Brian brings a passion for storytelling to audiences worldwide.
“Our experience with the success of When Calls the Heart has proved there is a massive, underserved audience out there for storytelling that amplifies hope and light,“ said Bird.
“At a time when almost everybody else is serving a menu of dark, cynical content, we believe in serving ‘soul food.’ And when you offer food to starving people… they will love you back.”
I don’t know about you, but we’re ready to embrace more content that will remind us of who we are at our core through themes like faith, community, human imperfections, and the importance of kindness.
What do you think? Will Home to Harmony be calling you to Indiana?
