"Pretty Little Liars" Spinoff "Ravenswood" Casts Two Leads (Exclusive)
5/6/2013
by Lesley Goldberg, Philiana Ng


There's a new duo moving into ABC Familiy's "Ravenswood".

"L.A. Complex's" Brett Dier and model Elizabeth Whitson have boarded the cable network's "Pretty Little Liars" spinoff series, The Hollywood Reporter has learned exclusively.



Dier will play Abel, a lone wolf and old soul with a brooding intensity. There's something dangerous lurking inside him -- or he could be wounded and covering. His trust is hard won but once you're in his inner circle, he'll never let you down.

Whitson, meanwhile, will play Olivia, Abel's twin sister and a former prom queen who has fallen from grace who's learning who her real friends are after most everyone in her inner circle turns their backs on her. Recent events have left the once carefree and effortlessly happy Olivia questioning what's important to her.



They will both be introduced in "Pretty Little Liars'" Halloween episode.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/pretty-little-liars-spinoff-ravenswood-brett-dier-elizabeth-whitson-451722

"Pretty Little Liars" Spinoff "Ravenswood" Makes Major Casting Change (Exclusive)
7/16/2013
by Philiana Ng


Weeks before "Pretty Little Liars" spinoff Ravenswood is set to begin production, the ABC Family series is making a big casting change.

Model Elizabeth Whitson, originally cast to play one of the lead roles Olivia, is departing "Ravenswood", while actress Merritt Patterson, originally set to play Olivia's former best friend Tess, will take over Whitson's part, The Hollywood Reporter has learned exclusively.

The character of Olivia is described as a former prom queen who is struggling with a recent fall from grace. Olivia used to be carefree and effortlessly happy, but recent events have left her questioning what’s truly important.





Brett Dier will continue on as Olivia's twin brother Luke with other regulars Nicole Gale Anderson, Britne Oldford and Tyler Blackburn transitioning onto the new show following the Halloween special. A replacement for Patterson's former role has yet to be cast.

"As we dug deeper into the mythology of Ravenswood we decided to re-conceive the character of Olivia. Merritt Patterson seemed to be the best choice for the direction the character is now headed," executive producers for "Ravenswood" said in a joint statement exclusive to THR.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/pretty-little-liars-spinoff-ravenswood-586245