‘We Were Liars’ Amazon Series Based On Book Casts Its Liars Led By Emily Alyn Lind

Denise Petski
·3 min read

We Were Liars, Prime Video’s series adaptation of E. Lockhart’s YA novel, has found its infamous Liars. Emily Alyn Lind (Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire), newcomer Shubham Maheshwari, Esther McGregor (Baby Girl), and Joseph Zada (Total Control) are set as series regulars, joining Mamie Gummer, Caitlin Fitzgerald, Candice King and David Morse. The series hails from Julie Plec, Carina Adly MacKenzie, Universal Television and Amazon MGM Studios.

We Were Liars is a tragic love story and an amnesia thriller set on a privately owned island off the coast of Massachusetts. It centers on the wealthy, seemingly perfect Sinclair family, who spend every summer on their private island. Gummer, FitzGerald and King play the three Sinclair sisters.

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Lind plays Cadence. The revered eldest granddaughter of a Kennedy-esque American dynasty is effortlessly clever and adventurous and has a knack for dramatic storytelling. She falls in love for the first time during an idyllic, dreamy summer with her best friends on her family’s private island in New England… blissfully unaware that just a year later, she will be a shell of her former self — sharp-edged, plagued by migraines, and unable to remember the events that lead to her frightening traumatic brain injury. In her pursuit of answers, Cadence is about to unravel everything she’s been raised to believe about the Sinclair family’s fairy-tale lore.

Maheshwari is Gat. Thoughtful, ambitious, and intelligent, Gat is a New York City kid with an edge — so he can’t help but feel a bit out of place amongst Martha’s Vineyard’s cashmere-and-gingham elite. That said, he returns to Beechwood Island, year after year, unable to resist spending summers with his best friend… who he’s been pining for since before he knew what pining is. This year, she finally seems to be reciprocating his feelings — but the timing couldn’t be worse, because Gat now has a secret that could drive her away forever.

McGregor plays Mirren. Wickedly funny and keenly observant, Mirren is a study in contradiction. She’s an artist who is too worried about being perfect to color outside the lines. She craves new experiences, but clings to childhood like a safety blanket. She’s dying to lose her virginity… but refuses to do anything she isn’t absolutely sure she’ll excel at on the first try. However, when she inadvertently stumbles across a scandalous family secret, she is catapulted out of her comfort zone… ready or not.

Zada portrays Johnny. Charismatic, dirty-minded, and occasionally reckless, Johnny is the ringleader of his friends’ more mischievous adventures. He moves through life like he’s invincible — after all, he’s never met a problem his emotional support Amex can’t solve. This summer, he’s about to collide with accountability for the very first time. Suffice it to say he’s not a fan.

Cast also includes series regular Arsher Ali and Wendy Crewson, who recurs.

The series is written and executive produced by Plec and MacKenzie, with the former writing the first episode and the latter writing the second. Executive producers also include Emily Cummins for My So-Called Company and the novel’s author, Lockhart. Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, and Amazon MGM Studios are the studios. Nzingha Stewart will be directing the first episode.

Lockhart’s YA novel, published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, has sold nearly three million copies worldwide.

Lind is repped by CAA and Brecheen Feldman Breimer. Maheshwari is repped by Untitled Entertainment and Gang, Tyre Law. McGregor is repped by 3 Arts Entertainment and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern. Zada is repped by Untitled Entertainment, RGM Artists and GGSSC Law.

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