The Lucy Hale Ian Harding reunion fans waited nearly a decade for just lit up social media. On October 25, 2026, Hale and Harding posted a new Instagram photo. It recreated an iconic pose from their Pretty Little Liars days. The message was clear: their Christmas movie, The Twelve Dates of Christmas, is coming very soon.
Hale captioned the post with a wink to their shared history. In the caption, she called the pair “a little older and wiser but the same two idiots”. She also teased the film directly, telling fans it is coming “like really sooon”. Within hours, Pretty Little Liars fans flooded the comments with excitement and nostalgia.
The Lucy Hale Ian Harding Reunion Post That Sent Fans Into Overdrive
The post leans into exactly what fans remember. Hale and Harding played Aria Montgomery and Ezra Fitz on Pretty Little Liars from 2010 to 2017. Their characters’ romance became one of the most talked-about storylines of the show’s seven-season run. The new photo recreates a familiar pose from that era.
Fan reaction was instant. Commenters called the pair iconic and celebrated the fact that they are working together again.
Hale had already set the stage earlier this month. In a TikTok video on October 4, she confirmed that the film is coming this Christmas. She also noted that this time, the two play characters who are the same age — a playful nod longtime viewers caught at once.
What Is The Twelve Dates of Christmas About?
The Twelve Dates of Christmas is a holiday romantic comedy directed by David Lipper. Lipper wrote the script with Seth Howard. Hale stars as Christina Walker, a successful shop owner who puts her career ahead of her dating life. As her younger siblings start getting married before her, Christina makes herself a promise. She will go on 12 dates in the 12 weeks before Christmas, in the hope of finding “Mr. Right.”
She navigates online dating, awkward first meetings, and unexpected connections. Harding co-stars opposite Hale. Details of his character remain under wraps, but the pairing is the film’s biggest draw.
The Twelve Dates of Christmas Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Lucy Hale | Christina Walker |
| Ian Harding | Co-lead |
| Penelope Ann Miller | Helen, the mother |
| Paul Ben-Victor | Frank, the father |
| Kahyun Kim | Molly, the best friend |
| Greer Grammer | Christina’s nemesis |
| Shipp Jr., Jenkins, Gulaptis, Pearlman | Roles unannounced |
Producers include Latigo Films, BuzzFeed Studios, Applewood Studios, CaliWood Pictures, and Fortitude International.
Why the Lucy Hale Ian Harding Reunion Hits Different
Not every TV reunion lands like this one. Pretty Little Liars ran for seven seasons on Freeform and built one of the most devoted fan bases of the 2010s. The Aria and Ezra pairing, nicknamed “Ezria” by fans, sat at the center of endless debate and devotion. Their characters’ relationship, between a student and her teacher, was also one of the show’s most controversial storylines. As a result, it still sparks discussion today.
That history is exactly why the new film matters to fans. Instead of revisiting Rosewood, they get a fresh start as romantic leads in a Christmas comedy, this time as peers. So it is nostalgia without a retread. When the project was first announced last December, their former co-stars joined in too. For example, Shay Mitchell, Tyler Blackburn, and Keegan Allen were among those cheering the reunion on social media. Cast reunions have been drawing big crowds lately, as we saw with the Full House cast’s biggest reunion yet at 90s Con.
The Twelve Dates of Christmas Release Date: What’s Confirmed and What’s Not
Here is where the film stands so far.
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| December 2025 | Deadline announces the pairing |
| February 2026 | Supporting cast announced |
| October 4, 2026 | Hale promises a Christmas debut |
| October 25, 2026 | Reunion photo teases the film |
Confirmed: the cast is set, and Hale has publicly promised a Christmas 2026 arrival. Still unknown: the exact release date, whether it will stream or open in theaters, and when the first trailer will drop. However, note this: the film is not the Hallmark limited series of the same name from last year. It is a standalone feature from a different team.
TV Insider’s running guide tracks each new announcement, and Parade’s report on the reunion post captures the fan reaction as it happened.
What’s Next for Lucy Hale and Ian Harding
The Christmas movie is far from Hale’s only project on the horizon. She will also star in and executive produce Scarlett Holmes, a Roku limited series about a modern descendant of Sherlock Holmes who solves romantic mysteries. TheWrap’s report on the Roku series describes it as a smart, feel-good mix of romance and mystery, with a planned 2027 debut.
Harding, meanwhile, has kept busy with Ripple and the 2024 holiday film The Magic of Lemon Drops. Finally, the Christmas reunion movie gives both actors a high-profile holiday title to close out the year.
Elsewhere this weekend, Peter Berg’s The Mosquito Bowl divided critics at AFI Fest, and Clayface topped the box office with $24 million. But for Pretty Little Liars fans, the weekend’s biggest story is simpler. Aria and Ezra are back together on screen, just in time for Christmas. More details should follow soon.
