Pretty Little Liars season 6
Hanna, Emily, Alison, Aria and Spencer in Pretty Little Liars season 6 ABC Family

Pretty Little Liars season 6 five years forward will premiere on 12 January on Freeform, the new name for ABC Family. The girls – Aria, Alison, Emily, Spencer and Hanna – will return to Rosewood with their new secrets and this time they will deal with a big bad that is more dangerous than A.

According to the five-minute promo and the official synopsis, the girls will reunite as a group to deal with the looming threats. The synopsis via Wetpaint reads:

"After years of tormenting and numerous shocking revelations, the Liars finally uncovered the true identity of 'A' in the summer finale of season six. Now, five years later, the girls have each pursued their own paths and have started adjusting to a life without 'A,' when something happens in Rosewood that forces them to go back to where it all started. Torn between their old habits and their new lives, the events in Rosewood compel the Liars to join forces once again, as relationships are put to the test and secrets are revealed. Having matured over the past few years, these are not the same girls who left Rosewood. As new lies emerge — how will they push forward without going back?"

Director Marlene King finally clarified the cancellation rumours surrounding Pretty Little Liars following her interview with Variety. Fans of the show had been shocked to learn that their favourite thriller will go off air after season 7.

"What I said was, 'This Uber A story that starts on January 12 will end when season 7 ends.' I did not say PLL will end. Just saying for real," she wrote on Twitter adding: "Technically I was supposed to say 'the new big bad' but let's get real, it's Uber A."

The popular ABC Family show is jumping five years forward, introducing a new villain who is more dangerous than A aka CeCe Drake. With the tweet, the show creator has also hinted that unlike A, the upcoming show's antagonist will last for only a season and half.

Previously, King had hinted that the dreaded villain will be dangerous and on a killing spree in Rosewood, instead of just tormenting the liars with freaking tricks.

Pretty Little Liars Season 6 winter premiere will air on Tuesday, 12 January on Freeform.