Image Source: YouTube user HBO Max
A new “A” is terrorizing a fresh group of liars in “Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin.” Starring Bailee Madison (Imogen), Malia Pyles (Minnie), Maia Reficco (Noa), Chandler Kinney (Tabby), and Zaria (Faran), the forthcoming HBO Max show takes place miles away from Rosewood in another fictional Pennsylvania hamlet and comes years after a “series of tragic events almost ripped the blue-collar town of Millwood apart.”
“It’s not really a continuation of any story or specific character, it’s a complete re-imagination of the existing universe,” Reficco tells POPSUGAR, referring to the original “Pretty Little Liars” Freeform series, which ended in 2017. “It also lives in a slasher horror world, which therefore just completely changes the whole look and feel . . . it has its own DNA.”
Even though the series stands on its own, Madison assures it “has all the same elements that were so addicting about the original.” The only difference is that this new chapter takes “the grittiest and darkest turn yet for ‘PLL.'” She adds, “We don’t hold back with our show at all.”
The official trailer dropped on July 6, and it seems no one is safe from “A.” “The town of Millwood is in a lot more imminent danger than people might expect. There are some terrible things that happen maybe quicker than people would think,” Zaria teases. Madison echoes the sentiments, adding, “‘A’ is incredibly cutthroat and vicious and will stop at nothing to complete whatever their task is. And I think that propels our story and allows for so many incredible horror elements to come into play, because in ‘A”s mind, it all makes sense and it is all worth it at the end of the day. I think that is truly what’s also terrifying is that there’s no human remorse at all when it comes to what our ‘A’ is willing to do.”
Reficco admits she’s also scared of “A.” She says, “There’s such terrifying things to ‘A’ in terms of how twisted [they] can get to truly ruin your life in a way that you could never even imagine. It goes way above and beyond just a stab, which obviously would suck, but I think balancing that is what terrified me the most.” Pyles notes, “Audiences will certainly be on a roller-coaster ride. There’s a lot of red herrings. There’s a lot of false alarms and Easter eggs and it’s just a really fun journey trying to figure it out.”
The first two episodes of “Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin” premiere on HBO Max on July 28, followed by two new episodes on Aug. 4 and Aug. 11. The final three episodes debut on Aug. 18. As of now, there is no word on a possible second season, but the cast is hopeful. “Our girls deserve it,” Madison says. “Our story’s just beginning, and I think we would be eager and excited to get to truly dive in. First season’s always a first season, it’s really exciting and nerve-wracking, but I think it’d be really, really fun to get to stay with these characters and these individuals and just continue to push the boundaries of what we’re able to do with this show.”