If you haven't read E. Lockhart’s We Were Liars, honestly, where have you been? It’s the kind of book that leaves you staring at a wall for twenty minutes after you finish the last page. People have been screaming for a screen version since 2014. Now, the We Were Liars Prime Video series is actually happening, and the hype is getting a little out of hand.
It makes sense.
Amazon isn't just throwing a small budget at this. They’ve tapped Julie Plec—the mastermind behind The Vampire Diaries—to lead the charge. This isn't some low-stakes teen drama. It’s a high-budget, atmospheric thriller that needs to capture the specific, eerie vibe of Beechwood Island. If they mess up the Liars, the internet might actually riot.
Who Is Actually Playing the Sinclair Family?
Casting is everything. You can have the best script in the world, but if the chemistry between Cadence and Gat feels forced, the whole thing falls apart.
Amazon finally dropped the news on the core four. Emily Alyn Lind is taking on the role of Cadence Sinclair Eastman. You probably know her from the Gossip Girl reboot or Doctor Sleep. She has that specific "sad girl with a secret" energy that Cady needs. Alongside her, we have David Iacono playing Gat. This is a big deal because Gat is the outsider, the person who disrupts the polished, "perfect" Sinclair facade.
The rest of the Liars are rounded out by Shubham Maheshwari as Johnny and Esther McGregor as Mirren.
Wait.
📖 Related: Why American Beauty by the Grateful Dead is Still the Gold Standard of Americana
The adults are just as important. The Sinclair matriarchs—the three sisters who are constantly bickering over their father’s inheritance—are being played by Mamie Gummer, Caitlin FitzGerald, and Candice King. Seeing Candice King back in a Julie Plec production feels like a weirdly satisfying full circle for TVD fans. And let's not forget the patriarch. Wendie Malick is Harris Sinclair. It’s a gender-flipped version of the grandfather from the book, which adds a fresh layer to the "Old Money" power dynamics.
Why the We Were Liars Prime Video Series Is Different
Adapting a book like this is a nightmare.
The novel is written in a very fragmented, first-person style. Cadence is an unreliable narrator because of her head injury and selective amnesia. How do you show that on screen without it being a confusing mess?
Julie Plec and Carina Adly MacKenzie (who worked together on Roswell, New Mexico) are the showrunners. They have a history of handling complicated timelines. The word on the street is that the show will lean heavily into the "summer aesthetic"—lots of golden hour shots, expensive linen clothes, and the feeling of a private island paradise that is slowly rotting from the inside.
They are filming in various locations to mimic the fictional Massachusetts coast. Expect a lot of foggy docks and sprawling beach houses.
Most people are worried about the twist.
👉 See also: Why October London Make Me Wanna Is the Soul Revival We Actually Needed
If you know, you know. If you don't, I won't spoil it here. But the challenge for the We Were Liars Prime Video team is keeping that secret for a new audience while still making it rewarding for the millions of people who have already read the book. You can't just copy-paste the ending; you have to earn it visually.
The Power of the Sinclair Name
The Sinclairs are "old money." They don't fail. They don't complain. They stay beautiful.
That’s the core of the story. It’s a critique of the American elite. The show is expected to lean into the "Succession for Gen Z" vibe. It’s about the burden of being perfect and what happens when that pressure finally causes someone to snap.
What the Fans Are Nervous About
- The Internal Monologue: So much of the book happens inside Cady's head. Voiceovers are risky. They can be tacky if not done right.
- The Timeline: The book jumps between "Summer 15" and "Summer 17." The show has to make sure viewers don't get lost in the shuffle.
- The Tone: It needs to be poetic. If it's too much like a standard CW drama, it loses the "literary" feel that made the book a bestseller.
Honestly, Amazon has been on a roll with YA adaptations lately. The Summer I Turned Pretty was a massive hit. My Lady Jane (though cancelled too soon) showed they can handle unique voices. This feels like their next big flagship series.
When Can We Actually Watch It?
Production kicked off in 2024. While we don't have a specific "day-month-year" release date yet, 2025 or early 2026 is the target window.
They’re taking their time with the post-production because the visual effects—specifically how they represent Cady's "migraines" and her distorted reality—require a lot of finesse. This isn't a show you want to rush. It needs to look expensive. It needs to look like a Sinclair.
✨ Don't miss: How to Watch The Wolf and the Lion Without Getting Lost in the Wild
How to Prepare for the Premiere
If you haven't read the book in a while, go back and do it. But read it closely this time. Look for the clues E. Lockhart dropped in the first few chapters that you probably missed the first time around.
Then, read the prequel, Family of Liars.
It follows the mothers (Carrie, Bess, and Penny) during their own fateful summer on the island. It gives so much context to why they are the way they are in the main story. There’s a good chance the We Were Liars Prime Video series might pull elements from the prequel to flesh out the adult characters, making it more of an ensemble piece than just a teen romance.
Keep an eye on the official Prime Video social channels. They’ve been dropping breadcrumbs—mostly aesthetic shots of the ocean and the Sinclair crest.
The best way to experience this is to go in with an open mind. Adaptations always change things. They have to. A book is a different beast than a television show. As long as they keep the heart of the story—the tragedy, the guilt, and the intense bond between the four Liars—it should be a massive success.
Key Actions to Take Now
- Re-read the original novel: Focus on the "Summer 15" sections to remember the dynamics before the accident.
- Follow the cast on Instagram: Emily Alyn Lind and David Iacono have been posting behind-the-scenes glimpses that hint at the show's color palette.
- Check out "Family of Liars": If the showrunners decide to do multiple seasons, the prequel material will likely be the source for Season 2 or flashbacks.
- Prepare for the "Shock": If you're watching with friends who haven't read it, do not let them Google anything. The spoilers for this story are everywhere, and once you see them, the experience is ruined.
The wait is almost over. Beechwood Island is calling, and the Sinclairs are ready to lie to you all over again.