Nearly a decade after the series finale of Pretty Little Liars, Lucy Hale and Ian Harding are reuniting as romantic leads in the holiday film The 12 Dates of Christmas. The movie, which premieres on Hulu this Friday, November 6, follows Hale’s character as she navigates a frantic seasonal dating challenge.
The actors Hale and Harding noted that their transition back to an on-screen partnership felt smooth. Filming took place last year around the holidays, and the pair reported that their chemistry remained as strong as ever. We picked up right like that,
Hale said. 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.
Three Facts About the Holiday Reunion
- The Premise: Lucy Hale stars as Christina Walker, a shop owner who commits to twelve dates in the twelve weeks leading up to Christmas to find “the one” after her friend Molly, played by Kahyun Kim, suggests the challenge.
- The Release: The film arrives on Hulu on Friday, November 6, 2026.
- The Creative Team: Directed by David Lipper, who co-wrote the script with Seth Howard, the cast also includes Greer Grammer, Carter Jenkins, Zack Pearlman, Penelope Ann Miller, and Paul Ben-Victor.
Why the Pretty Little Liars Alumni Are Returning to Romance
For fans of the long-running mystery drama, the pairing of Hale and Harding carries significant weight. While their previous roles as Aria Montgomery and Ezra Fitz were defined by a controversial, multi-season narrative—a forbidden romance between a 16-year-old student and her English teacher—this film allows the duo to step into a lighter, more traditional rom-com dynamic. Hale has noted the shift in their characters’ ages, stating, Yes, we play the same age this time.
Harding mentioned that their comfort level was so high that it was occasionally difficult to distinguish between scripted dialogue and off-the-cuff banter. It’s a very natural film, because Lucy and I were just like, off the cuff most of the time,
Harding explained.
How Hulu Positions the Film in a Crowded Streaming Market
The release of The 12 Dates of Christmas features actors Lucy Hale and Ian Harding in a new holiday-themed story. By releasing the title on November 6, Hulu aims to reach holiday audiences. The film joins a slate of streaming holiday content, including the upcoming stop-motion special A Proud Family Wizmas and the animated Mickey’s Home Alone, which premieres Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26, at 6:00 p.m. on Disney Jr. and streams the following day on Disney+.
| Title | Platform | Genre | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| The 12 Dates of Christmas | Hulu | Holiday Rom-Com | Nov 6, 2026 |
| Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas | Disney+ | Family/Animated | Dec 4, 2026 |
What Fans Want to Know Before Streaming
Is this film a continuation of the Pretty Little Liars universe?
No. While the casting is a deliberate nod to the show’s fan base, the story is a standalone holiday romantic comedy with entirely new characters. Christina Walker is a shop owner, while Ian Harding portrays a character named Peter Grant.
Will this be available on Disney+?
Current information confirms a Hulu release for November 6, 2026. As clarified by AmericanTV.com, viewers should be careful not to confuse this new title with a 2011 film that shares a similar name.
How does the tone compare to their previous work?
The cast describes the film as “playful” and “charming,” explicitly avoiding the darker, mystery-heavy tone that characterized their previous collaboration. It is intended to be a lighthearted addition to the seasonal rom-com genre, featuring various disastrous dates including suitors who bring ventriloquist dummies or livestream their encounters.
