Ravenswood executive producers today announced that Merritt Patterson would be replacing Elizabeth Whitson in the starring role of Olivia.

Elizabeth Whitson was originally cast by the ABC Family show to play Olivia, the former prom queen who is no longer as happy and carefree as she once was. Whitson has now departed Ravenswood, and Patterson has changed roles. Patterson originally was cast as Olivia’s best friend Tess on the ABC Family show. Her role has not yet been recast.

In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, the executive producers announced the casting change. “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…”

Olivia and her brother Luke, played by Brett Dier, will be two of the central characters along with series regulars Nicole Gale Anderson, Britne Oldford, and Tyler Blackburn.

Asked by TVLine about the possibility of Caleb (Tyler Blackburn) recurring or continuing to appear on Pretty Little Liars, executive producer Oliver Goldstick answered that it was unlikely but might be still in the cards.

“There is some room for crossovers, but we’re not shooting it here [in Los Angeles]; we’re shooting it in New Orleans. That will make it difficult production-wise, because that would mean a travel day for one of our core actors. It’s an ordeal psychically to get that person there and then get them back… So, we recognize all of that, but we’re not ruling it out. We’re figuring out how we can do some crossovers.”

Goldstick would not reveal much about what brings Caleb to Ravenswood, however mysteriously provided, “once he’s there, he’ll be compelled to stay”.

Ravenswood begins filming this month in New Orleans and will premiere with the Halloween episode of Pretty Little Liars. Pretty Little Liars’ characters Spencer (Troian Bellisario) and Toby (Keegan Allen) will head there in Tuesday’s episode “Under the Gun.”