"Pretty Little Liars" is set to return in a few weeks, and the show will not only see a five-year time jump, but this time around, Alison (Sasha Pieterse), Aria (Lucy Hale), Emily (Shay Mitchell), Spencer (Troian Bellisario) and Hanna (Ashley Benson) will be dealing with a new villain, and it looks like the new big bad will be related to one of them.
Speaking with TVGuide, show creator Marlene King remained mum about how the season 6B villain will be connected to the liars, but she said that all will be revealed by the finale.
"By the end of [season] 6B, you will pretty much know who or who's related to this big bad," said King.
Meanwhile, a new cast poster has been released via the show's official Instagram account ahead of the season 6B premiere, and fans immediately went to work searching for hidden clues and spoilers from the photo.
In the shot, some of the girls are standing apart from the others, such as Alison and Aria. Some Instagram commenters pointed out that Aria is looking quite "evil" and this fueled speculation that she will be the season's big bad. Dirt is seen spilling out of Spencer's character, and while some fans think that the dirt means that there will be a major death in the upcoming season, TVLine speculates that the dirt could mean that Emily's father will reappear and reveal that his death was an elaborate prank.
When the show returns, the liars will be fresh out of college and have new jobs and relationships. Hanna is engaged and is working in fashion while Spencer is pursuing a career in politics in Washington D.C. Emily is single and is working as a bartender, while Aria is a successful writer. Alison is married and is now a teacher at their old high school.
"Pretty Little Liars" returns Tuesday, Jan. 12 at 8 p.m. on ABC Family/ Freeform.
