Lucy Hale and Ian Harding are sharing the screen again, but their latest reunion comes with a festive twist that Pretty Little Liars fans will not want to miss. The former co-stars are teaming up for The Twelve Dates of Christmas, a holiday romantic comedy that brings them back together in an entirely different story, nearly a decade after their hit television series ended.
First announced in December 2025, the movie has gradually revealed more about its cast, creative team and production progress. A recent update has also changed the conversation around its promotional rollout, while Hale has offered a clue about when audiences can expect to see the film.
Lucy Hale and Ian Harding Reunite for a New Christmas Romance
For fans of Pretty Little Liars, seeing Lucy Hale and Ian Harding together again carries a familiar sense of nostalgia. Hale played Aria Montgomery, while Harding portrayed Ezra Fitz throughout the series, which concluded its seven-season run in 2017.
Their characters became one of the show’s recognisable pairings, but their relationship was far removed from the premise of the actors’ new project. Ezra was Aria’s high school English teacher when their relationship developed, a storyline that became a significant part of the original series.
The Twelve Dates of Christmas takes the actors in a different direction. Hale plays Christina Walker, while Harding stars as Peter Grant. The film is not a continuation of Pretty Little Liars, and Christina and Peter are entirely new characters rather than adult versions of Aria and Ezra.
Hale highlighted that distinction in an October 4 TikTok post featuring Harding. Her playful comment offered a memorable nod to their previous roles while making it clear that this reunion would be different.
Hale joked, “And yes, we play the same age this time,” acknowledging the age-related difference between their former characters and their new roles.
The comment added another layer to the reunion for longtime viewers. Although the actors are returning as co-stars, the movie places them in a separate story built around romance, dating and the Christmas season.
More Magical Movie Reunions
Returning stars and familiar fantasy worlds are drawing attention to upcoming sequels, much like this reunion of former television co-stars. Explore our Practical Magic 2 cast and return report for more on the next chapter of the Owens family story.
When Will The Twelve Dates of Christmas Be Released?
The biggest question surrounding the holiday movie is when audiences will finally be able to watch it.
Hale has indicated that The Twelve Dates of Christmas is coming “this Christmas,” pointing towards a Christmas 2026 release window. TV Insider reported on her October 4 social-media post and identified Christmas as the currently stated timeframe.
However, a holiday release window is not the same as a confirmed premiere date. No specific date has been established by the strongest available sources, so dates such as December 1, December 10 or December 25 should not be treated as official.
The movie was first announced in December 2025, and its production status has since advanced. Fortitude International’s current project listing identifies the film as being in post-production, marking a significant development since the initial announcement.
Here is the current release and production information available for the film:
| Detail | Current information |
| Movie title | The Twelve Dates of Christmas |
| Alternative title used by Apple TV | The 12 Dates of Christmas |
| Genre | Holiday romantic comedy |
| Lead actors | Lucy Hale and Ian Harding |
| Hale’s character | Christina Walker |
| Harding’s character | Peter Grant |
| Director | David Lipper |
| Writers | David Lipper and Seth Howard |
| Initial announcement | December 2025 |
| Release window indicated by Hale | Christmas 2026 |
| Specific release date | Not confirmed |
| Production status | Post-production |
| Trailer | Listed by Apple TV |
| Final distribution arrangement | Not definitively established |
The available information therefore points to a Christmas-season arrival, but audiences will need an official announcement to learn the exact release date.
The Official Trailer Update Changes Earlier Reports
There has been a notable development regarding the movie’s trailer.
TV Insider’s October 21 report stated that no trailer was available at the time. However, Apple’s current listing now includes a page titled “The 12 Dates of Christmas – Official Trailer.”
That means earlier reports describing the film as having no trailer are now outdated. The Apple TV listing provides a new point of reference for audiences following the movie’s progress.
The title difference is worth noting, too. BuzzFeed Studios’ production announcement and Fortitude International use The Twelve Dates of Christmas, while Apple TV lists the film as The 12 Dates of Christmas. Both titles refer to the Lucy Hale and Ian Harding project.
The trailer listing does not, by itself, confirm Apple TV as the movie’s exclusive streaming distributor. It establishes that Apple TV currently hosts an official trailer listing, but the final distribution arrangement has not been definitively established by the available information.
The distinction matters because a promotional listing and a confirmed exclusive streaming deal are not necessarily the same thing. Until the filmmakers or relevant distribution parties provide further details, the movie’s final viewing arrangements remain an open question.
Who Is in The Twelve Dates of Christmas Cast?
Hale and Harding lead the holiday romantic comedy as Christina Walker and Peter Grant, respectively. Their reunion forms the centre of the project, but the film also features an expanded supporting cast.
Several additional actors were announced in February 2026, including Penelope Ann Miller, Paul Ben-Victor, Greer Grammer and Kahyun Kim.
According to TV Insider, Miller plays Helen, the mother of Hale’s character, while Ben-Victor portrays Frank, Christina’s father. Kim plays Molly, Christina’s best friend, and Grammer takes on the role of Christina’s nemesis.
The other announced cast members are Demetrius Shipp Jr., Carter Jenkins, Leonidus Gulaptis and Zack Pearlman.
The expanded ensemble represents a considerable development from the initial December 2025 announcement, when the project was introduced with its two leads and principal creative team.
With family members, a best friend and a nemesis included in the story, the film’s supporting characters are positioned around different aspects of Christina’s life as she navigates her Christmas-season dating challenge.
What Is The Twelve Dates of Christmas About?
At the centre of the movie is Christina Walker, a successful shop owner whose professional life has received considerable attention while her dating life has taken a back seat.
Her circumstances become more complicated as her younger siblings begin getting married ahead of her. Watching them move into the next stage of their lives prompts Christina to make a promise to herself: she will go on 12 dates during the 12 weeks leading up to Christmas, hoping to find “Mr. Right.”
The challenge places Christina in the unpredictable world of online dating, where unexpected connections and personal growth become part of the experience.
The film’s official production logline describes a journey involving dating, unexpected connections and the meaning of the Christmas season. Its central countdown gives the romantic comedy a clear seasonal structure, following Christina as she works through the goal she has set for herself.
Rather than concentrating exclusively on one relationship from the outset, the premise follows Christina through a series of dating experiences over the weeks before Christmas.
The available official logline does not disclose the full circumstances surrounding Christina and Peter’s relationship. Their roles as the movie’s leads are confirmed, but further details about how their relationship develops should not be assumed without additional information.
That balance between Christina’s personal challenge, her family circumstances and the holiday setting provides the foundation for the film’s romantic-comedy storyline.
Who Directed and Wrote the Christmas Movie?
David Lipper is directing The Twelve Dates of Christmas and co-wrote the screenplay with Seth Howard. Lipper is also credited as one of the film’s producers.
Fortitude International’s current project listing identifies Lipper as director and lists both Lipper and Howard as writers. The company categorises the movie as a romantic comedy and lists Hale and Harding among its stars.
The production companies involved are Latigo Films, Applewood Studios, CaliWood Pictures, Fortitude International and BuzzFeed Studios.
BuzzFeed Studios formally announced the project in December 2025, introducing Hale and Harding as the leads and establishing the movie’s principal creative team. Fortitude International is also involved in the film’s international sales, according to the original production announcement.
The current producer credits include David Lipper and Robert A. Daly Jr. of Latigo Films, Ryan Winterstern of Applewood Studios, BuzzFeed Studios and CaliWood Pictures.
With the project now listed as being in post-production, the available information shows that it has progressed beyond its initial announcement and into a later stage of production.
Why the Pretty Little Liars Reunion Matters
The movie’s connection to Pretty Little Liars remains a major part of its appeal for viewers familiar with Hale and Harding’s previous work together.
Their performances as Aria Montgomery and Ezra Fitz connected them through seven seasons of the series, which ended in 2017. Their characters’ relationship, including the fact that Ezra was Aria’s high school English teacher when it developed, was very different from the premise of the new holiday film.
This time, Hale and Harding are not returning to Rosewood or reprising their former characters. Instead, they are playing Christina Walker and Peter Grant in a separate romantic-comedy story.
Hale’s October 4 TikTok comment about the characters being the same age reinforces that distinction while acknowledging the history that makes their reunion notable.
For longtime fans, the casting offers the opportunity to see the two actors share the screen again without making the new film part of the Pretty Little Liars universe.
What Has Changed Since the December 2025 Announcement?
The project’s development can be followed through several key milestones.
In December 2025, BuzzFeed Studios announced the movie, introducing Hale and Harding as its leads and outlining the holiday romantic-comedy project.
By February 2026, the announced supporting cast had expanded to include Penelope Ann Miller, Paul Ben-Victor, Greer Grammer, Kahyun Kim, Demetrius Shipp Jr., Carter Jenkins, Leonidus Gulaptis and Zack Pearlman.
On October 4, Hale shared a TikTok post featuring Harding and indicated that the movie was coming “this Christmas.” The post also included her comment about the actors playing characters of the same age this time.
TV Insider reported on October 21 that a trailer was not yet available. Apple’s current listing now features an official trailer page, making that earlier information outdated.
Meanwhile, Fortitude International’s current project page lists the film as being in post-production.
Together, these updates provide a clearer picture of the film’s progress, even though its exact premiere date and final distribution arrangement remain unconfirmed.
Conclusion
The Twelve Dates of Christmas brings Lucy Hale and Ian Harding together for a new holiday romantic comedy nearly a decade after Pretty Little Liars ended. With an expanded supporting cast, David Lipper directing and co-writing alongside Seth Howard, and the project now in post-production, the movie has moved considerably beyond its original December 2025 announcement.
Hale has indicated that the film is coming this Christmas, while Apple TV now lists an official trailer. However, a specific release date and the final distribution arrangement have not been definitively established. For now, the confirmed picture is a festive reunion featuring two familiar co-stars in entirely new roles, with further release details still to come.
More Upcoming Movie Trailer Updates
Official trailers often provide the first substantial look at a film’s story and returning characters. Our Toy Story 5 officil trailer breakdown covers Pixar’s upcoming sequel and Woody and Buzz’s reunion.
Source and Research Disclaimer
This article has been prepared based on thorough research of the sources provided below. It reflects the information available in those sources and distinguishes reported details from confirmed announcements where appropriate. Release dates, distribution arrangements and other production details may change as further information becomes available.
Sources
- BuzzFeed Studios: Lucy Hale and Ian Harding reunite for The Twelve Dates of Christmas
- Fortitude International: The Twelve Dates of Christmas
- Apple TV: The 12 Dates of Christmas – Official Trailer
- TV Insider/Swooon: The Twelve Dates of Christmas updates
- Deadline: The Twelve Dates of Christmas casts Penelope Ann Miller, Paul Ben-Victor, Greer Grammer and Kahyun Kim
- TVLine: Pretty Little Liars duo reunites for Christmas movie
Featured Image Credit: Lucy Hale / TikTok
Leave a Reply