‘Cruel Intentions’ TV Series in the Works

Amazon Sets ‘Cruel Intentions’ TV Series for Streaming

The long-gestating adaptation, which has seen false starts before, will be shown on either Freevee or Prime Video.

(L to R) Reese Witherspoon and Sarah Michelle Gellar in 1999's 'Cruel Intentions.'

Like a slow-boiled revenge plot finally coming to fruition, it looks like Amazon may finally have cracked a small-screen version of 1999 teen seduction thriller ‘Cruel Intentions’, which starred some of Hollywood’s biggest young stars of the time.

According to TV Line, the company is targeting the new show for either its free-with-commercials Freevee service or the main Prime Video subscription streamer.

More than one failed attempt litters the TV development ground, including a Fox-based prequel series called ‘Manchester Prep’ that never made it to air but was repurposed as a direct-to-video film called ‘Cruel Intentions 2’ in 2000. And 2004 saw another video release, ‘Cruel Intentions 3’.

Cruel Intentions

"In the game of seduction, there is only one rule: Never fall in love."

R1 hr 38 minMar 5th, 1999

Showtimes & Tickets

Watch Cruel Intentions Online

What happened in the 1999 movie?

As directed by Roger Kumble, ‘Cruel Intentions’ — itself based on the 18th-century novel Dangerous Liaisons — starred Sarah Michelle Gellar and Ryan Phillippe as step-siblings Kathryn Merteuil and Sebastian Valmont, who wagered on Sebastian’s ability to seduce Annette Hargrove (Reese Witherspoon), the daughter of the headmaster at their elite New York City prep school.

There were scandals and double-crosses, plots and moral lessons.

(L to R) Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe in 1999's 'Cruel Intentions.'

What’s the plot of the new show?

The new ‘Cruel Intentions’ plans to shift the action somewhat, which should allow for a fresh take, albeit with recognizable elements from the original book and movie.

Set in Washington, D.C., the series follows two ruthless step-siblings who will do anything to stay at the top of the Greek Life hierarchy at their elite college. When a brutal hazing incident threatens the entire Panhellenic system, they’ll do whatever is necessary to preserve their power and reputations… including seducing the daughter of the U.S. vice president.

‘Euphoria’s Phoebe Fisher is on to write the pilot alongside ‘Gossip Girl’ veteran Sara Goodman. Which feels appropriate, since ‘Cruel Intentions’ could fit happily into the same genre of the latter in particular.

This is far from the first attempt to turn the movie into a show. In 2016, NBC ordered a pilot for a version that would pick up more directly from the original. In it, Annette (with Kate Levering taking over the role), is raising the baby she had after her relationship with Sebastian (who dies at the end of the movie). Set 16 years later, Annette once again interacts with Kathryn (which would see Sarah Michelle Gellar returning to the role) when the teen, Bash, runs away to San Diego.

The series didn’t go beyond that point despite Sony Pictures TV then looking for a new home, and Gellar admits she didn’t think it would work in hindsight.

Here’s what she had to say to TV Line:

“On the first day, I was like, ‘This isn’t working.’ It’s just not a network show. And if it is a network show, it’s not my ‘Cruel Intentions’. So, I was actually grateful.”

Production on the new show should be kicking off this July in Toronto.