It’s a very natural film, because Lucy and I were just like, off the cuff most of the time,
Ian Harding said of his reunion with Lucy Hale in the upcoming holiday feature The 12 Dates of Christmas.
A New Holiday Dynamic
The rom-com follows Christina Walker, a career-focused shop owner who finds herself pressured by her family to find a partner after spending another Christmas Eve alone. Her mother expresses concern regarding her solitude, prompting Christina to promise she will never spend another Christmas Eve single. To resolve this, she commits to going on 12 dates in the 12 weeks leading up to the holiday.
The production marks a shift from the actors’ previous collaboration in the long-running mystery drama Pretty Little Liars, which aired from 2010 through 2017. In that series, the pair played a controversial romance between an English teacher and his 16-year-old student. The project, which was first announced last December, serves as a lighter, more conventional romantic setting that fans of the pair have anticipated for nearly a decade.
David Lipper and Seth Howard Direct Film Backed by Three Studios
Directed by David Lipper, who is also known for his work on Murder at Hollow Creek and The Neglected, the film was co-written with Seth Howard. The production is backed by Latigo Films, CaliWood Pictures, and Buzzfeed Studios. Khayun Kim, known for her role in St. Denis Medical, joins the project alongside actors Carter Jenkins, Demetrius Shipp Jr., Leonidus Gulaptis, and Zack Pearlman.
He is just as wonderful as he always has been. Still singing in the hair and makeup trailer and just like the kindest dude ever, like, he’s a true friend,
Hale said of her co-star. Regarding the film’s tone, Harding added, There’s a bunch of different wild scenarios, but I think ultimately it’s charming. There’s a lot of, like, romance, but it’s not like, sickeningly so. So it’s like, it’s the right amount of everything.
Industry Context
Since the conclusion of Pretty Little Liars, both actors have pursued various projects. Hale, who also works as a singer-songwriter and released her debut album Road Between in 2014, served as an executive producer on the 2021 film The Hating Game. She has also appeared in titles such as Puppy Love. Harding has appeared in several Hallmark projects and the film Our Little Secret. The release of The 12 Dates of Christmas on November 6 is being supported by a marketing push that includes a recently released trailer, which has already garnered significant attention from fans on platforms like YouTube.
Nearly 10 years after the finale of “Pretty Little Liars,” Lucy Hale and Ian Harding reunite on the carpet for their new film, “The 12 Dates of Christmas,” streaming this Friday on Hulu. 🎄#Holiday #Holidays #Christmas pic.twitter.com/O8l6nfBTXE
— https://x.com/OnTheRedCarpet/status/2118202340834746396
More on Lucy Hale
#Ezria fans, this one's for you. ❤️ Nearly a decade after "Pretty Little Liars" ended, Lucy Hale and Ian Harding are reuniting as love interests in "The 12 Dates of Christmas," streaming Nov. 6 on Hulu. 🗓️🎄 https://t.co/TNLQIaraLD
— https://x.com/ABC7Chicago/status/2118229364110205325