Cruel Intentions (TV series)

Cruel Intentions
Promotional poster
Genre	Drama
Created by	Phoebe Fisher Sara Goodman
Based on	Cruel Intentions by Roger Kumble Les Liaisons dangereuses by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos
Starring	Sarah Catherine Hook Zac Burgess Savannah Lee Smith Sara Silva John Harlan Kim Khobe Clarke Brooke Lena Johnson Sean Patrick Thomas
Music by	Jeff Cardoni
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	8
Production
Executive producers	Phoebe Fisher Sara Goodman Neal H. Moritz Pavun Shetty Roger Kumble Andrea Iervolino Monica Bacardi Bruce Mellon
Producers	Jess Burkle Stefan Steen Sheila Phillips
Production locations	Toronto, Ontario
Camera setup	Single-camera
Running time	39–49 minutes
Production companies	Off Center, Inc. Original Film AMBI Media Group Amazon MGM Studios Sony Pictures Television
Original release
Network	Amazon Prime Video
Release	November 21, 2024 (2024-11-21)

Cruel Intentions is an American drama television series created by Phoebe Fisher and Sara Goodman, and produced by Original Film, Sony Pictures Television, and Amazon MGM Studios for Amazon Prime Video. Part of the franchise of the same name, it is based on the 1999 film by Roger Kumble, which in turn was a modern retelling of Pierre Choderlos de Laclos' 1782 novel Les Liaisons dangereuses . ^[1]

The series, set in a Washington, D.C., college among rich students, follows two manipulative step siblings who are ready to do anything to maintain their status. It features a cast led by Sarah Catherine Hook, Zac Burgess, and Savannah Lee Smith.

Plan for a television adaptation of the film started in 1999 at Fox with a prequel series that was later retooled as the 2000 direct-to-video film Cruel Intentions 2 following its cancelation due to creative concerns. In 2015, NBC picked up a television pilot for a continuation of the film's storyline with Sarah Michelle Gellar returning but later passed on the project. Amazon announced a new project's development for Amazon Freevee in 2021, with Neal H. Moritz returning as an executive producer. It was given a series order in April 2023, and moved to Prime Video several months later. Filming took place in Toronto and began in June 2023.

Cruel Intentions premiered on Amazon Prime Video on November 21, 2024, to generally mixed reviews.

Premise

Two step-siblings at Manchester College in Washington, D.C., have worked hard climbing the Greek life social ladder on campus. After a hazing incident goes wrong, however, the two will do anything it takes to maintain the status they have achieved and set their sights on seducing the Vice President's daughter. ^[2]

Cast and characters

Main

• Sarah Catherine Hook as Caroline Merteuil, Lucien's stepsister. The character is based on Kathryn Merteuil, which in turn, was based on the Marquise de Merteuil. ^[3]
• Zac Burgess as Lucien Belmont, Caroline's stepbrother. The character is based on Sebastian Valmont, which in turn, was based on the Vicomte de Valmont. ^[3]
• Savannah Lee Smith as Annie Grover, daughter of the Vice President. The character is based on Annette Hargrove, which in turn, was based on Madame de Tourvel. ^[3]
• Sara Silva as CeCe Carroway. The character is based on Cecile Caldwell, which in turn, was based on Cécile Volanges. ^[3]
• John Harlan Kim as Blaise Powell. The character is based on Blaine Tuttle. He is sleeping with Scott.
• Khobe Clarke as Scott Russell. The character is based on Greg McConnell. He is sleeping with Blaise.
• Brooke Lena Johnson as Beatrice Worth
• Sean Patrick Thomas as Professor Hank Chadwick. The character is based on Ronald Clifford (who Thomas also portrayed), which in turn, was based on the Chevalier Danceny.

Recurring

• Claire Forlani as Claudia Merteuil, Caroline's mother. The character is based on Tiffany Merteuil.
• Jon Tenney as U.S. Congressman Russell
• Nikki Crawford as 2nd Lady, Ellen Grover, Annie’s mother. She is loosely based on Headmaster Hargrove.
• Isabella Tagliati as Ella
• Zeke Goodman as Brian Blandsman

Episodes

No.	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original release date
1	"Alpha"	Adam Arkin	Teleplay by : Phoebe Fisher Story by : Phoebe Fisher & Sara Goodman	November 21, 2024 (2024-11-21)
2	"Beta"	Nick Copus	Teleplay by : Phoebe Fisher Story by : Phoebe Fisher & Sara Goodman	November 21, 2024 (2024-11-21)
3	"Gamma"	Nick Copus	Nicholas Strain	November 21, 2024 (2024-11-21)
4	"Delta"	Pippa Bianco	Chaconne Martin-Berkowicz	November 21, 2024 (2024-11-21)
5	"Epsilon"	Pippa Bianco	Des Moran	November 21, 2024 (2024-11-21)
6	"Zeta"	Nick Copus	Valerie Armstrong	November 21, 2024 (2024-11-21)
7	"Eta"	Iain B. MacDonald	Jess Burkle	November 21, 2024 (2024-11-21)
8	"Theta"	Iain B. MacDonald	Phoebe Fisher & Sara Goodman	November 21, 2024 (2024-11-21)

Production

Development

In 2015, NBC picked up a television pilot for a continuation of the 1999 film Cruel Intentions with Sarah Michelle Gellar returning but later passed on the project. Following that, Sony Pictures Television announced that the project will either be shopped to other networks or completely redeveloped. ^{[4] [5]} Amazon Studios announced that a new project was being developed in October 2021. ^[6]

It received a series order, and filming was set to begin in April 2023. The series is developed by Phoebe Fisher and Sara Goodman who are set to executive produce alongside Neal H. Moritz. ^[7] Upon the main cast announcement, Pavun Shetty, Andrea Iervolino, Monica Bacardi, and Bruce Mellon were added as executive producers. Original Film, Iervolino & Lady Bacardi Entertainment, Sony Pictures Television, and Amazon MGM Studios are producing the series. ^[2] Eight episodes were ordered for Amazon Prime Video instead of Amazon Freevee. ^[8]

Casting

In June 2023, Sarah Catherine Hook, Zac Burgess, Khobe Clarke, Brooke Lena Johnson, Sara Silva, John Harlan Kim, and Myra Molloy joined the starring cast with Sean Patrick Thomas as Professor Chadwick, having previously appeared in the original film as Ronald Clifford. The recurring cast includes Laura Benanti and Jon Tenney. ^[2] Additional recurring members announced in December 2023 were Claire Forlani, Nikki Crawford, Isabella Tagliati, and Zeke Goodman. ^[8]

Filming

The series began shooting in June 2023 in Toronto. ^{[9] [10]}

Release

The series was released on November 21, 2024, on Amazon Prime Video. ^[11]

Reception

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 24% approval rating based on 25 critic reviews, with an average rating of 4.7/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Neither as fun or transgressive as the original Cruel Intentions, this television adaptation doesn't cut deep enough to make much of an impression." ^[12] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 41 out of 100 based on 9 critics, indicating "mixed and average" reviews. ^[13]

References

1. Kaufman, Anna (October 24, 2024). "The 'Cruel Intentions' reboot gets its steamy first trailer: Watch". USA Today . Retrieved October 24, 2024.
2. Otterson, Joe (June 1, 2023). "Cruel Intentions Series at Amazon Sets Main Cast (Exclusive)". Variety . Archived from the original on June 1, 2023. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
3. Moore, Julia (October 24, 2024). "Cruel Intentions Series Merges 1999 Film's Salacious Step-Sibling Love Triangle with Modern-Day Greek Life: See the Trailer". People . Retrieved October 24, 2024.
4. Wagmeister, Elizabeth (October 31, 2016). "'Cruel Intentions' Not Moving Forward at NBC, Sony TV Shopping Reboot". Variety .
5. Andreeva, Nellie (October 31, 2016). "'Cruel Intentions' Not Going Forward At NBC, To Be Shopped Elsewhere By Sony". Deadline Hollywood .
6. Goldberg, Lesley (October 1, 2021). "Cruel Intentions Update in the Works at Amazon's IMDb TV". The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on October 1, 2022. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
7. Ausiello, Michael (April 4, 2023). "Cruel Intentions TV Adaptation Ordered to Series (Finally!) at Amazon". TVLine . Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
8. Petski, Denise (December 4, 2023). "Cruel Intentions Series Order Confirmed At Prime Video; Full Cast Set". Deadline Hollywood .
9. Rajput, Priyanca (April 28, 2023). "Cruel Intentions TV adaptation sets summer Toronto shoot". KFTV.com . Archived from the original on May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
10. "What's Shooting". ACTRA Toronto. ACTRA . Retrieved December 4, 2023.
11. Rahman, Abid (October 24, 2024). "Amazon's 'Cruel Intentions' Series Gets First Trailer, Release Date". The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on November 6, 2024. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
12. "Cruel Intentions: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved February 18, 2025.
13. "Cruel Intentions: Season 1". Metacritic . Retrieved February 18, 2025.

External links

• Cruel Intentions at IMDb