The Pretty Little Liars Reunion You’ve Been Waiting For: Lucy Hale and Ian Harding Team Up in a New Rom-Com

Aria and Ezra walking into a Christmas rom-com? Did not have that on my 2025 bingo card, but here we are. Lucy Hale and Ian Harding just teased a reunion, and yes, it is exactly the nostalgic holiday comfort food you think it is.

The teaser that set fans off

Hale dropped a quick Instagram clip: she pops up first, then Harding slides in with a latte, gives a little cheer, and the two say in unison, 'It's good to be back.' Her caption sealed it: 'Hale and Harding take 2.' If you felt your inner Ezria stan wake up, you were not alone.

So what is The Twelve Dates of Christmas?

It's a new holiday romantic comedy written and directed by David Lipper. The story follows Christina Walker, a successful, very committed shop owner who realizes she's single while her younger siblings keep getting married. Solution: she signs herself up for 12 dates over the 12 weeks leading into Christmas to see if Mr. Right is actually out there.

Plot-wise, it's classic holiday rom-com math, but the Hale/Harding factor gives it a built-in audience. Also notable: Lipper is both writing and directing, which you don't see all that often on these seasonal titles. As for the rest of the cast and a release date, nothing firm yet. Hale hinted that we won't see it until 'next Christmas,' which points to a 2026 release.

Hale put it like this on Instagram:

'A merry Christmas indeed... So fun to be reunited with old friends and new ones... see you next Christmas with this one!'

Why this pairing hits a nerve

Hale and Harding co-starred for all seven seasons of Pretty Little Liars as Aria Montgomery and Ezra Fitz. The couple, known as Ezria, was controversial at times but still a heavy fan favorite. So yes, any on-screen reunion between those two is going to carry some baggage and a lot of curiosity.

PLL reunion chatter is alive again

Pretty Little Liars wrapped in 2017 after seven seasons, but showrunner I. Marlene King has never ruled out getting the band back together. She told The Hollywood Reporter she and the team talk about it and even floated a couple formats that would make sense:

'We always kick it around. I like the idea of maybe doing a movie or limited 10 episodes back in Rosewood. I'd have to come up with a good idea to bring everybody back and where we would go for it.'

King also said enough time has passed that the characters would have more life to draw from, and she feels the cast would be up for it. Several of them have said as much: Troian Bellisario, Ashley Benson, Tyler Blackburn, Shay Mitchell, Sasha Pieterse, and Harding have all shown interest. Harding's take: 'I'd love to see where those characters are now, but it also depends on the script and the story' — and yes, he'd be open to Ezra again.

Where they've been lately

Hale recently starred in the comedy thriller 'F*** Marry Kill.' Harding most recently showed up in the Netflix series 'Ripple.' In other words: both have stayed busy, and this rom-com detour feels like a strategic nostalgia play for the holidays.

Quick PLL refresher

• Show: Pretty Little Liars
• Showrunner: I. Marlene King
• Seasons: 7 (ended in 2017)
• Rotten Tomatoes: 81%
• Streaming: HBO Max

Bottom line: Hale and Harding reuniting for a Christmas rom-com is exactly the sort of tidy, gift-wrapped announcement that fires up longtime PLL fans while quietly keeping reunion talk warm on the stove. If you hear 'It's good to be back' and immediately picture Rosewood, you're not alone — even if this particular snow globe is set somewhere a lot more twinkly.