‘Pretty Little Liars’ Creator Hints at Possible Shocking Death in Season 7; Season 8 to Happen?

‘Pretty Little Liars’ creator hinted that season 7 could usher in a possible shocking death involving a main character. Although season 7 is rumored to be the last one for the long-running television series, talks of a possible eight season continue to emerge.

During an interview with The Wrap, creator and executive producer I. Marlene King addressed Ashley Benson’s absence from season 7’s key art. She said, “People weren’t taking the idea of Hanna possibly meeting her demise as seriously as they should until they saw that image.”

The promotional material only featured main cast members Troian Bellisario, Lucy Hale, Shay Mitchell, and Sasha Pieterse. King explained, “Ashley was in my office that day when the network came over with the key art. It really was an idea they generated, but they looped us in toward the end to make sure we were on board. Ashley and I both loved it, we thought it was provocative, fun, and exciting … I think people weren’t taking the idea of Hanna possibly meeting her demise as seriously as they should until they saw that image. So I think it was really effective for us.”

Benson plays Hanna Marin, one of the series’ protagonists. Benson has been in the main cast since season 1. Season 6’s cliffhanger finale saw Hanna abducted and the Liars racing against time to save her life. Hanna was used as bait in a frantic attempt to learn Uber A’s real identity.

In season 7’s premiere, entitled “Tick-Tock, Bitches”, Hanna is revealed to be alive but is now in the hands of the suspicious and elusive Mary Drake (Andrea Parker).

According to Variety, King revealed that season 7 will be full of surprises. She said, “The stakes are the highest they’ve ever been in Rosewood, regarding the Liars and A.D./Uber A… Because of that, there are a lot of consequences and fatalities.”

When asked if fans should be worried about one of the main cast members being killed off in season 7, King teased, “I think we should always be worried.”

Rumors are circulating that season 7 may be the final run for the highly popular teen drama and mystery-thriller television series. When asked if the latest season will be the end of the current cast, King said, “We still officially don’t know.” However, King and Freeform insisted that no official decision to finish off the show has been made as of the present.

During an interview with E!, Hale was asked about a possible season 8 return. She said, “What I can say is, it is the end of PLL as you know it. So, you know, it may continue in some way, shape or form. I don’t know what cast members are saying or going but it definitely feels like the ending in a way. So it feels like there’s a lot more excitement this season I think ‘coz… everyone’s sort of stepping up their game because we want it to be the best season yet.”

Benson added, “Been doing this for seven years now. But, to be honest, I think this is… it could be the last season. It could not be. There’s always room for more and they’re constantly coming up with new things to do. So we’ll see.”

‘Pretty Little Liars’ premiered on June 2010 on ABC Family and became the network’s highest-rated series debut across its target demographics. It opened to mixed reviews but gained more positive reception as the series progressed.

Season 7’s episode 2 is scheduled to premiere on Freeform on June 28, 2016.