It’s been a minute since Shay Mitchell last graced our screens, but the internet is buzzing again and the question everyone’s asking is: Is Shay Mitchell returning to TV in 2025?
From her iconic run as Emily Fields on Pretty Little Liars to stealing every scene in You and Dollface, Shay has always known how to keep audiences hooked. But lately, whispers of a comeback have sent fans (and Twitter stans) into overdrive. Between sneaky behind-the-scenes photos, cryptic Instagram stories, and a rumored new streaming deal, Mitchell’s next act might be closer than we think.
So let’s break down the evidence, the rumors, and what we actually know about Shay’s much-talked-about return to television.
A Little Refresher: Where We Last Saw Shay Mitchell
If you were a teen in the 2010s, Pretty Little Liars was practically religion, and Shay Mitchell was at its center. Her role as Emily Fields wasn’t just another character; it became a cultural milestone. Confident, kind, and fiercely independent, she helped reshape what representation on mainstream teen TV looked like.
After the show wrapped in 2017, Shay did what every smart Hollywood player does: she pivoted.
We saw her embrace her darker side in Netflix’s You as the sleek, mysterious Peach Salinger, and later flex her comedy chops as Stella Cole in Hulu’s Dollface. Then, just as fans were waiting for her next screen project, Shay surprised everyone by becoming an unstoppable entrepreneur.
Her travel brand BÉIS became a cult hit, her tequila seltzer Onda went viral, and she built an empire off-screen. Still, fans have been wondering: When will she be back in front of the camera?
The Internet Clues: Why Fans Think Shay Mitchell Is Returning to TV
Fans of Shay Mitchell have the investigative energy of a Pretty Little Liars episode — and lately, they’ve been piecing together clues that point to one thing: a comeback.
Clue #1: The Los Angeles Set Photos
In early 2025, several paparazzi shots surfaced showing Shay leaving a soundstage in downtown Los Angeles, wearing what looked like a sleek, power-suit costume. No BÉIS promo shoot, no campaign tags — just Shay, a film crew, and a mysterious smile.
Entertainment gossip accounts like DeuxMoi and PopTingz quickly picked up the story, claiming she’s filming a “female-led thriller series for a major streamer.”
Neither Netflix nor Amazon has confirmed anything, but the internet doesn’t need confirmation — it thrives on speculation.
Clue #2: That Instagram Caption
Then there was the Instagram moment that broke fandom Twitter: a photo of Shay in a makeup chair, captioned simply — “Back where I belong 🎬✨.”
Cue the chaos. Fans flooded the comments with theories, emojis, and emotional breakdowns. “SHE’S COMING BACK TO TV, I CAN FEEL IT,” one wrote. “I don’t even care what the show is, I’m watching.”
🎤 Clue #3: Her Subtle Interview Hints
In a late-2024 Variety sit-down about BÉIS, Shay dropped a subtle bombshell:
“I’ll never stop acting — I just want to make sure the next project I do feels right for who I am now.”
That one line? Enough to launch a thousand Reddit threads.
What Kind of Role Could We Expect?
If you’ve followed Shay’s career, you know she doesn’t repeat herself. Each project she’s taken since Pretty Little Liars has been a statement of reinvention.
Industry insiders told People that Shay’s next TV project could be “a drama-thriller hybrid with a comedic edge.” Think Big Little Lies meets Dead to Me, women-driven storytelling with a dark sense of humor.
She’s reportedly attached as both actress and producer, giving her creative control over the kind of story she tells. That move aligns perfectly with the way she’s been shaping her post-PLL career, thoughtful, diverse, and on her own terms.
From Emily Fields to Empowered Producer
Mitchell’s shift from actress to business mogul wasn’t random it was strategic. After years of long shooting schedules, Shay wanted to own her time.
That’s when she poured her creativity into BÉIS, the travel brand she founded in 2018. What started as a small idea has grown into one of the biggest lifestyle labels in Hollywood, loved by influencers, stylists, and even fellow celebrities like Hailey Bieber.
But while she’s mastered business, she’s also missed the adrenaline of storytelling.
“There’s something about being on set — the energy, the chaos, the collaboration — I’ll always crave that,” she shared during an Insider feature.
It’s that exact quote fans keep coming back to when speculating about her return.
Could Shay Mitchell Join a Reboot or New Franchise?
Let’s be honest: Hollywood in 2025 is the land of reboots. From Gossip Girl to Sex and the City, no iconic series stays gone forever. And while Pretty Little Liars has already seen spin-offs like Original Sin, fans still hope to see Shay make a cameo.
But if she does come back to TV, it’s likely something brand new. Sources close to her team say she’s more interested in roles that “reflect where she is now, a working mom, entrepreneur, and woman of color navigating modern success.”
That could mean anything from a high-stakes drama about the business world to a dark comedy about fame and reinvention. Either way, it’ll be smart, stylish, and unapologetically Shay.
Social Media: The Subtle Comeback Campaign
If you know Shay Mitchell, you know she doesn’t just announce things, she teases them like a pro.
Her TikTok presence in 2025 has become a mix of mom-life chaos, brand humor, and little cinematic moments that feel suspiciously like… production teasers?
In one clip, she lip-syncs to the sound “You thought I was gone? Oh honey, I was just getting started.” Fans instantly noticed the film lighting and pro-level camera work. Coincidence? We think not.
And on Instagram, her recent posts have slowly shifted from lifestyle content to more cinematic imagery — muted tones, behind-the-scenes setups, and one too many 🎬 emojis to ignore.
What Insiders Are Saying
According to a Variety insider, Shay has been in talks with a major streaming platform for a “multi-project deal focusing on female-driven storytelling.”
That could mean more than just a comeback, it could mark her evolution into a creative powerhouse.
A producer close to Shay said,
“She’s incredibly hands-on. She’s not just reading scripts, she’s developing ideas, pitching, and curating the kind of content she wishes existed when she started.”
That level of involvement aligns perfectly with the current Hollywood trend where stars like Reese Witherspoon and Selena Gomez are taking control of their narratives. Shay, it seems, is next in line.
Fans React: ‘We’re So Ready’
Shay’s fandom, especially those who grew up watching her as Emily Fields, is fiercely loyal. Every potential project announcement sends social media into nostalgia overload.
On TikTok, #ShayMitchellComeback has over 30 million views. Threads are filled with comments like:
“She’s literally the moment again.”
“Pretty Little Liars walked so Shay could run the whole industry.”
It’s the kind of grassroots hype studios dream of: organic, passionate, and internet-powered.
What Would a Shay Mitchell Comeback Mean for 2025 TV?
TV in 2025 is saturated with reboots, algorithms, and instant streaming churn, but few actors have Shay’s blend of authenticity and glam.
Her return could signal something fresh: a grown-up redefinition of the teen stars who shaped millennial and Gen Z pop culture. Like Zendaya and Selena Gomez, Shay’s evolution from network TV to producer marks a larger shift in entertainment stars building empires instead of just careers.
“She’s not chasing relevance,” one People editor noted. “She’s rewriting what relevance looks like.”
So… Is Shay Mitchell Returning to TV in 2025?
While nothing is officially confirmed, all signs point to yes. Between the hints, industry whispers, and her own words, Shay Mitchell seems ready to step back into the spotlight — this time on her own terms.
Whether it’s a slick thriller, a dramedy about modern motherhood, or something entirely unexpected, her return feels like the natural next chapter in a career defined by reinvention.
One thing’s certain: if Shay Mitchell is heading back to TV, she won’t just star in the show — she’ll run it.
Final Word
Whether she’s scripting her next move behind the camera or preparing to dominate our screens again, Shay Mitchell has mastered the art of the slow burn.
So yes — keep your notifications on, because when Shay finally announces her return, it won’t just be another TV project. It’ll be a moment.