Five fun facts about Heartland
1. Heartland is the longestrunning hour- long series in the history of Canadian television.
The CBC family drama was launched so the Mother Corp. could win back Sunday evening viewership. Who knew that the horsey adventures of the Fleming girls in Alberta would turn into such a Canadian institution? Sunday marks the beginning of Season 8, which means it will surpass former champ Street Legal in longevity. Next Thursday, cast and crew will celebrate its 1,000th day of filming. By the end of Season 8, 139 episodes of Heartland will have aired. Producer Jordy Randall of Seven24 Films says the series has pumped more than $ 200- million into the Alberta economy.
2. Season 8 will feature some high- profile Canadian directors.
When thinking of suitable directors to helm the wholesome adventures of Heartland, maverick filmmaker Bruce McDonald may not be the first name that springs to mind. While perhaps best known for film buffs for scrappy indie road movies such as 1989’ s Roadkill and 1995’ s Hard Core Logo, not to mention the 2008 zombie- horror flick Pontypool, he is also an old hand at directing Canuck TV. Alongside veteran director Anne Wheeler ( Bye Bye Blues), McDonald among the more high- profile filmmakers directing episodes for Season 8. “He’s a director who has a very wide range,” says Heartland producer Jamie Paul Rock. “One of the best things about him is that he has an enormous curiosity about the world around him. That’s what he brought. He was able to see this world in a way that was brand new to a lot of us out here. He just looked at those mountains and was so knocked out by them.”
3. The Oscar- nominated, gay cowboy movie Brokeback Mountain had an ( indirect) role in bringing Heartland to Alberta.
The foothills of the Rockies are such as integral part of Heartland, it’s easy to forget that CBC initially intended the series to be shot in Quebec. Nevertheless, CBC execs came to Calgary to meet with Seven24 Films, which had recently wrapped coproducing Ang Lee’s 2005 drama Brokeback Mountain with the now- deceased Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal. “We talked about what Alberta has and how iconic it was here,” Randall says. “I think that stuck with them and when they were stuck with the girl- andahorse in a Quebec series, I think they put two and two together. I also credit Brokeback Mountain for Heartland ending up here.”
4. The cast has ( mostly) remained the same for eight seasons.
Viewers have stuck with Heartland for eight seasons and so have most of the principal cast. Faces have come and gone, of course, but leads Amber Marshall, Michelle Morgan, Shaun Johnson, Graham Wardle and Chris Penner came on board for the pilot and haven’t left. The only significant change came when Jessica Amlee, who played Mallory Wells, departed the series in 2013, but even she has returned for guest spots. More than 50 crew members have also been on the show since it began shooting back in 2007. “The top five people have not changed since Day 1, which is incredible,” says Randall. “Their commitment to the show is really special. Amber Marshall could do a lot of different things but wants to keep doing this show, and that’s the same with all the other cast.”
5. Some old characters will be returning for Season 8.
Heartland’s eighth season will be a “season of growth” for the main characters of Heartland, says head writer and showrunner Heather Conkie. But there will also be characters returning that long- term fans will remember. The character of Val Stanton — mother of Ashley, owner of Briar Ridge Stables and horse- training rival of Amy ( Marshall) — will return after a few years absence as will her son, Jesse. Jesse appeared in the pilot episode but will return as an adult eight years later to strike up some business dealings with Caleb ( Kerry James), who is Ashley’s ex- husband. Actor Ian Tracey will also return as Ty’s former stepdad, Conkie says.