Adapting a beloved book is always a challenge, especially when it sparks a TikTok movement.
When We Were Liars first hit shelves in 2014, it was already a bestselling young adult novel, but its resurgence in 2020 transformed it into something else entirely: a viral phenomenon.
Emotional reaction videos, aesthetic tributes, and twist breakdowns made it a staple of BookTok — and catapulted its haunting story to new heights.
Now, We Were Liars is being reimagined for Prime Video, with creator E. Lockhart stepping into a new chapter of the Sinclair legacy alongside powerhouse producers Julie Plec (The Vampire Diaries, The Originals) and Carina Adly MacKenzie (Roswell, New Mexico).
Julie Plec & Carina Adly MacKenzie: Building a Gothic Legacy
While best known for creating lush genre series filled with vampires, aliens, and supernatural angst, Julie Plec and Carina Adly MacKenzie found themselves drawn to We Were Liars for very different reasons.
It was personal. Real. Deeply human.
Still, the series’ haunting tone and coastal setting offered plenty of opportunity for the kind of atmospheric storytelling they do best.
Drawing inspiration from the mythologized energy of New England and what they called “Kennedy-core,” Plec and MacKenzie leaned into the visual language of wealth and silence, building a show that feels both timeless and ghostly.
They talk about what it was like convincing Prime Video to greenlight a property with such an emotionally invested fanbase — and how TikTok’s obsession with the novel gave them the extra ammunition they needed to push it forward.
From carefully chosen music cues to location-heavy filming, the duo shaped a world where beauty, grief, and mystery coexist — and where every frame tells a deeper story.
Watch our full conversation with Julie and Carina below.
E. Lockhart: A Viral Book’s Next Chapter
For author E. Lockhart, watching We Were Liars go viral was more than a surprise — it was emotional.
After the novel became a bestseller in 2014, it found a second life six years later when TikTok users began creating mini-films, weeping openly on camera, and sharing their raw reactions to the book’s infamous twist.
But Lockhart was less interested in the numbers and more moved by what she called a “creative conversation” — a moment where readers didn’t just consume her work, they responded to it. And now, that conversation continues on screen.
In our chat, Lockhart reflects on how the TV adaptation expands on the world of the Sinclairs, subtly weaving in threads from her prequel novel, Family of Liars, to deepen the psychology of the adult characters.
She speaks candidly about what it’s like handing off such a personal story to a new medium, and why she’s not worried about spoilers.
According to her, fans don’t reread We Were Liars just for the twist — they revisit it for the feelings.
Watch our interview with E. Lockhart below.
The Story You Think You Know
We Were Liars premieres Wednesday, June 18, on Prime Video, and while fans may think they know how the story ends, this adaptation promises to reveal even more.
With expanded characters, new emotional textures, and a creative team that knows how to turn coming-of-age stories into cultural touchstones, this haunting tale of legacy, loss, and love is ready to reach a whole new audience.
Stick with TV Fanatic for more We Were Liars coverage — including exclusive interviews with the younger cast as we anxiously await the premiere.
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We Were Liars From Page to Screen: The Women Bringing the Story to Life
We Were Liars author E. Lockhart and EPs Julie Plec & Carina Adly MacKenzie reflect on the book’s impact, adaptation, and the story’s emotional power.
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Unraveling the Sinclairs: Exclusive Access to the Adults of We Were Liars
We Were Liars stars David Morse, Candice King, and more reflect on power, legacy, and family secrets ahead of the Prime Video premiere.
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Melanie Scrofano and Romy Weltman on Building Sisterhood and Navigating the Mystery on Revival
Melanie Scrofano and Romy Weltman talk about sisterhood, setting the tone on set, and finding the heart in SYFY’s new supernatural mystery Revival.
The post We Were Liars From Page to Screen: The Women Bringing the Story to Life appeared first on TV Fanatic.
