Seven years after bidding farewell to the mysteries of Rosewood, the stars and creator of the hit Freeform series Pretty Little Liars are openly expressing interest in revisiting the beloved drama. The core group – Lucy Hale, Shay Mitchell, Troian Bellisario, Ashley Benson, and Sasha Pieterse – alongside showrunner I. Marlene King, have weighed in on bringing the Liars back together for a potential revival.
It seems the desire for a reunion isn’t a secret among the cast, but they each have unique ideas about what that return might look like and when.
The Liars Weigh In: Movie or Series?
While everyone appears open to stepping back into their iconic roles, the preferred format sparks friendly debate:
Troian Bellisario (Spencer Hastings): Believes a reunion should be a film rather than another full season. As she told The Hollywood Reporter, “It would need to be a film because I don’t think it could sustain another season.” With seven years having passed since the 2017 finale, she feels “it’s the perfect time to see where they are” now that the characters have lived more life.
Sasha Pieterse (Alison DiLaurentis): Is “always open” to gathering the Liars. She shared her enthusiasm for the prospect, calling it a “fun thought experiment to figure out what it would look like for our characters if we all came together.”
Shay Mitchell (Emily Fields): Emphasized the need for the entire main cast to be involved. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, she stated she “can’t do it without my girls” and that it “would have to be a whole group situation.” She told E! News she’d “always be down.”
Ashley Benson (Hanna Marin): Offered a slightly more unconventional, humorous condition. The actress quipped to The Hollywood Reporter that she’d return if her character, Hanna, could finally be revealed as “A,” the infamous tormentor of the series.
Lucy Hale (Aria Montgomery): Expressed her eagerness for a reunion, telling E! News she’d do it “in a heartbeat.” Looking back, she appreciates the show even more now. Joking about the potential tone, she suggested it “would be really fun” if a get-together was framed like “Real Housewives of Rosewood.”
What About the Showrunner & Other Rosewood Residents?
It’s not just the main five actresses considering a return.
I. Marlene King (Showrunner): Is also “game” for a revival. She told The Hollywood Reporter she likes “the idea of maybe doing a movie or limited 10 episodes back in Rosewood.” King noted the challenge would be developing a compelling reason to bring everyone back and determining the characters’ trajectories seven years later, aiming for something “similar but different.” She even revealed that a planned movie intended to bridge parts of season six was previously scrapped for “business reasons.”
Tyler Blackburn (Caleb Rivers) & Ian Harding (Ezra Fitz): Like Bellisario, both actors lean towards the movie format. Blackburn felt a PG-13 film could explore more intense themes restricted on a family network. Harding agreed he’d love to see where the characters are now but stressed the importance of a strong script and story, while also being “OK with where it was left” if a project doesn’t materialize. Interestingly, Harding recently hinted at the specific possibility of a holiday rom-com with former co-star Lucy Hale, expressing his desire to work with his PLL castmates again.
Beyond the Screen: A Bond That Lasts
While the future of Rosewood remains uncertain, the connection among the cast is undeniable and enduring. The friendships forged over seven intense years of filming have clearly lasted well beyond the series finale.
The six female leads even got matching “shh” index finger tattoos to commemorate the end of the show in 2017, a permanent symbol of their bond. Ashley Benson mentioned in a past interview that she and her co-stars remain close, even living minutes away from each other, calling them “like my sisters and they always will be.”
This lasting bond extends to supporting each other through major life events. Shay Mitchell recently shared how Troian Bellisario and Ashley Benson have been vital sources of support and advice as she navigates motherhood, noting that she “definitely hit Troian up a lot at the beginning” after having her second child.
Peek Behind the Curtain: Secrets from the PLL Set
The possibility of a reunion offers a chance to look back at the original series and the myriad secrets and surprising facts from its production that kept fans guessing off-screen as much as ‘A’ did on-screen.
The Show’s Origins: The concept for the Pretty Little Liars book series originated when author Sara Shepard was working as a ghostwriter. Inspired by real-life kidnapping stories, she pondered the aftermath of such a traumatic event on friendships. Showrunner I. Marlene King’s decision to adapt the first book’s plot into just the pilot episode immediately set the show’s signature breakneck pace, mirroring Shepard’s chapter-ending cliffhangers.
Casting the Liars: Finding the perfect actresses was key. Lucy Hale was the first Liar cast without needing a formal audition, having a relationship with the studio; she initially considered playing Hanna before landing the role of Aria after chemistry reads. Shay Mitchell nearly lost the part of Emily but impressed producers in the room. Troian Bellisario auditioned with a risqué scene involving smoking that was ultimately deemed too much for the network. Janel Parrish originally auditioned for Spencer before becoming the iconic Mona. Sasha Pieterse was initially considered for Hanna but was only 12 at the time; she was then cast as the younger Alison, terrifying everyone in a good way. Ashley Benson was the last of the main four cast, auditioning shortly after her previous show was canceled and captivating producers with her eyes.
Production Quirks & Details: Ashley Benson also contributed to the show’s identity, suggesting “Secret” by The Pierces as the theme song after hearing it while filming the pilot. Aria’s iconic “shush” pose in the intro was a spontaneous idea, though Lucy Hale has pointed out her finger wasn’t perfectly centered. The show’s first promotional photoshoot, featuring the girls covered in dirt in a graveyard, was so memorable it led some viewers to initially think the show was titled “Dirty Little Liars.” Due to the show’s often complex and sometimes illogical plot twists, the production team even created a box where crew members had to put a dollar if they asked a logic question!
Character & Storyline Changes: While Keegan Allen became a fan-favorite as Toby, the character was initially played by James Neate in the pilot before the role was recast. Drew Van Acker also replaced Parker Bagley as Jason DiLaurentis later on. In a significant departure from the books, Toby was originally planned to die by suicide in season one but was kept alive due to strong fan reaction to Keegan Allen and the Spencer-Toby pairing. Sasha Pieterse famously disliked Alison’s signature ruffled yellow tank top, reportedly owning 13 copies of the garment.
Cameos & Surprises: Reality star Kylie Jenner was invited for a guest role in 2015, but it never came to fruition due to a documented disagreement with her mother. In a romantic gesture, actor Patrick J. Adams (from Suits) pursued a small guest role on the show specifically to reconcile with Troian Bellisario, his future wife, after a breakup.
PLL’s Enduring Legacy
Beyond the behind-the-scenes anecdotes, Pretty Little Liars left a significant mark on pop culture, consistently generating buzz and becoming one of the most tweeted-about shows during its run. Its series finale was the most tweeted episode of television in 2017. While it spawned two short-lived spinoffs (Ravenswood and The Perfectionists) and a recent reboot (Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin) which was canceled in 2024, the possibility of reuniting the original Liars holds a special place for both the cast and dedicated fans.
Whether it takes the form of a movie, a limited series, or something entirely new, the message from Rosewood’s finest seems clear: they’re ready to explore what’s next for the Liars, provided they get to do it together.
