Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin star Chandler Kinney gives her thoughts on the popular theory that Lucy Hale's character Aria has taken up the role of franchise villain 'A.' HBO Max's Original Sin is the fourth series in the larger Pretty Little Liars horror drama franchise. The original show aired on ABC Family/Freeform for seven seasons from 2010 to 2017 and was based on Sara Shepard's novel series of the same name. Original Sin features an ensemble cast including Kinney, Bailee Madison, Zaria Simone, Malia Pyles, and Maia Reficco.
Original Sin has a similar formula to the original Pretty Little Liars, following a group of teen girls who are terrorized by a mysterious figure only known as 'A.' All the girls are blamed by 'A' for a secret, tragic event from their pasts and are forced to confront their actions by the antagonist. The Pretty Little Liars spin-off's position on HBO Max affords it more room to explore mature content and horror elements than the original network series, which is already paying off in the girls' torment by 'A.' Kinney plays the role of Tabby Haworthe in the show, a smart and passionate aspiring director with a few secrets. In the first few episodes of the series, 'A' keeps busy in their coercion of Tabby and the other girls, stalking them and pushing their high school rival off a building.
In a recent sit-down for the podcast The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul, Kinney responded to the theory that Hale's character Aria from the original show could be 'A.' See what she had to say below:
I can't answer any question like that, but I will say that this is the PLL Cinematic Universe, baby, so we're all in the same world. You never know what could happen.
It's interesting to hear Kinney allude to the larger Pretty Little Liars franchise, which presumably includes Original Sin, Pretty Little Liars, and the two canceled one-season series Ravenswood and Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists. Hale previously discussed a potential Aria return by joking about coming back as a mom. Kinney's comments open up the possibility for characters from any of the series that share Pretty Little Liars' same continuity to appear on Original Sin. It would certainly be thrilling for viewers of the original to see Hale's fan-favorite character Aria make a comeback as a villain, but a reveal will be a long ways away.
During what some consider the golden era of spin-off series, new takes on well-known properties can be a double-edged sword. When they contain all-new characters, they can face complaints from those eager to see the original actors reprise their roles, and when familiar characters are re-introduced, they may face criticism for no longer being how audiences remember them. Additionally, spin-off creators must find ways to balance the desires and nostalgia of original viewers with the acquisition of a new generation of fans. Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin has so far outshone even the original series in critical acclaim and features a fresh, darker take on a new story with echoes of the old, in addition to being more inclusive than its predecessor. With Hale previously revealing she is a fan of the spin-off, perhaps she will be eager to become a part of it as the series' iconic antagonist.