Unveiling Secrets: What to Expect from the ‘We Were Liars’ TV Adaptation

Prime Video is set to release a new YA series that’s sure to capture the hearts of its audience, titled We Were Liars, adapted from the popular novel by E. Lockhart.

In 2022, the adaptation rights were secured by Julie Plec’s My So-Called Company in collaboration with Universal Television.

Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming We Were Liars TV series:

Release Date

E. Lockhart hinted on Instagram that the show is expected to debut in 2025. She recently confirmed that it will premiere on June 18, exclusively on Prime Video.

Entertainment Weekly provided a sneak peek into the series, showcasing images of the characters, their mothers, and the extended Sinclair family.

Production Status

The production for the series has already been completed.

Cast Details

The series will feature Emily Alyn Lind (Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire), Shubham Maheshwari, Esther McGregor (Baby Girl), and Joseph Zada (Total Control) as the four main characters, who are central to the storyline of Lockhart’s book.

Lind portrays Cadence, the oldest granddaughter of the Sinclair family, who experiences a summer fling followed by a traumatic incident. Maheshwari plays Gat, a thoughtful and ambitious kid from New York City who feels out of place among the elite on the Sinclair’s private island. McGregor takes on the role of Mirren, a keen observer and artist. Zada plays Johnny, the charming yet rebellious leader of the group.

Zada was also recently cast as Haymitch Abernathy in the upcoming film adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, a prequel focusing on the mentor of Katniss and Peeta, originally portrayed by Woody Harrelson in the film series.

Mamie Gummer (True Detective), Caitlin FitzGerald (Succession) and Candice King (The Vampire Diaries) are also set to play significant roles as the three Sinclair sisters.

Julie Plec, known for her work on The Vampire Diaries, shared with Deadline her excitement about working again with Candice King. She revealed that from the beginning, the character Bess was written with King in mind, though initially they feared she might be too young for the role. However, they ultimately decided to cast her, confident in her ability to embody the character.

Plec added, “If Caroline Forbes was the role she was born to play, then Bess Sinclair is undoubtedly the role she’s meant to play now. They’re essentially the same character, just separated by a few decades and life experiences.”

Additional Information: ‘We Were Liars’: Mamie Gummer, Caitlin FitzGerald & Candice King to Star in Amazon Series Based on Book

Gummer plays Carrie Sinclair, the eldest daughter of the wealthy media mogul Harris Sinclair (portrayed by David Morse). Owning Beechwood Island, where the family spends their summers, Carrie faces personal challenges that could threaten her sobriety during the upcoming season. FitzGerald portrays Penny Sinclair, who is dealing with a tumultuous divorce while managing a golden retriever breeding business. King plays Bess Sinclair, the meticulously organized youngest daughter, who is a mother to three children.

Rahul Kohli (The Fall of the House of Usher), stepping in for Arsher Ali, will appear as Ed, Carrie’s partner, in a series-regular role.

Wendy Crewson (Tracker, Gray) is also set to have a significant recurring role in the series.

Creative Team

The series is penned and executive produced by Plec and MacKenzie, with Plec writing the premiere episode and MacKenzie the following one. Other executive producers include Emily Cummins from My So-Called Company and the novel’s author, Lockhart. Production companies involved are Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, and Amazon MGM Studios. Nzingha Stewart directed the pilot episode.

Additional Information: ‘We Were Liars’ Series Adaptation in Development at Amazon from Julie Plec, Carina Adly MacKenzie & Universal TV

Prime Video officially ordered the series in March 2023.

Series Synopsis

Set against the backdrop of the Sinclair family’s private island off the Massachusetts coast, We Were Liars delves into the seemingly perfect but secretly troubled lives of the Sinclair family. The story primarily unfolds during the family’s annual summer gatherings on Beechwood Island.

A mysterious event affects Cadence at the age of 15 during one such summer, leading her fellow liars to help her piece together the full story two years later.

Connection to Lockhart’s Prequel, Family of Liars

Plec is also set to adapt the prequel novel, which explores the secretive past of another generation of the Sinclair family.

In a recent interview with Deadline, Plec expressed optimism for a potential second season of the series, which would likely delve deeper into the lives of the Sinclair matriarchs, as depicted in Family of Liars.

Plec believes that fans of the original book will be thrilled with the adaptation, as it faithfully captures the essence of the novel while expanding its universe to develop the adult characters and set the stage for future seasons.

Additional Information: Julie Plec Reflects on 15 Years of ‘The Vampire Diaries’ & Teases Upcoming YA Mystery Series ‘We Were Liars’

Preview Availability

Yes, a teaser trailer for We Were Liars was released by Prime Video in early May.