The Seduction (TV series)

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The Seduction
Merteuil (Logo).png
French Merteuil
Genre Period drama
Created byJean-Baptiste Delafon
Based on Les Liaisons dangereuses
by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos
Directed by Jessica Palud
Starring
Opening theme"Iron" by Woodkid
ComposerDelphine Malausséna
Country of originFrance
Original languageFrench
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes1
Production
Producers
  • Marie Guillaumond
  • Clément Birnbaum
  • Joachim Nahum
Production locations
Camera setup Single-camera
Running time45-52 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network HBO (HBO Max)
Release14 November 2025 (2025-11-14) –
present

The Seduction (know as Merteuil in France) is a French television series created by Jean-Baptiste Delafon, based on Pierre Choderlos de Laclos's epistolary novel Les Liaisons dangereuses . It stars Anamaria Vartolomei, Diane Kruger, Vincent Lacoste, and Lucas Bravo. The series is both a prequel and a loose adaptation of the plot of the novel, and follows Isabelle de Merteuil (Vartolomei) as she is trying to get revenge on the Vicomte de Valmont (Lacoste) after he betrayed her.

Contents

The series production was announced by HBO Max in September 2024 with Nabi Productions and Felicita Films serving as producers. Filming took place mainly in Val-d'Oise between September and December 2024. Originally announced as an Max Original, it was rebranded as an HBO Original in October 2025.

The Seduction premiered in France on 14 November 2025 on HBO Max's HBO hub.

Premise

The day after her marriage, Isabelle Dassonville discover that the ceremony was fake and that her husband was in reality the Vicomte de Valmont who was manipulating her. Condemned to take a vow of silence in a convent, her only way to escape is to follow Valmont's aunt, Madame de Rosemonde, who wants to use her to seduce the Comte de Gercourt in Paris for her own mysterious motives. But when Rosemonde's plan fail, Isabelle decides to marry the Comte de Merteuil in order to become a Marquise and gain power to help her to get revenge on Valmont.

Cast

Main

Recurring

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
1"Isabelle" Jessica Palud Jean-Baptiste Delafon, Gaëlle Bellan & Jessica Palud14 November 2025 (2025-11-14)
2TBAJessica PaludTBA21 November 2025 (2025-11-21)
3TBAJessica PaludTBA28 November 2025 (2025-11-28)
4TBAJessica PaludTBA5 December 2025 (2025-12-05)
5TBAJessica PaludTBA12 December 2025 (2025-12-12)
6TBAJessica PaludTBA19 December 2025 (2025-12-19)

Production

Development

In September 2024, HBO Max announced that a loose adaptation of Pierre Choderlos de Laclos's Les Liaisons dangereuses that will focus on the origins of Isabelle de Merteuil entered production with Jessica Palud directing, while Clément Birnbaum and Joachim Nahum from UGC's Nabi Productions and Marie Guillaumond from Studio TF1's Felicita Films will serve as producers. [1] [2]

The series was originally announced as an HBO Max original series, however, when the trailer was released in October 2025, it was rebranded as an HBO Original, similarly to The Penguin , Dune: Prophecy , and It: Welcome to Derry . [3] [4]

Filming

Filming began on 4 September and wrapped on 13 December 2024, and took place in Île-de-France, mainly in Val-d'Oise, while some scenes where filmed in Normandy. [5] Many châteaux where used by the production, including the Château de Villette. [6]

Release

The Seduction premiered on HBO Max's HBO hub in France on 14 November 2025, with subsequent episodes released weekly. In France, the series release was not affected by the rebranding as an HBO Original as the channel is only available as a content hub in the country. [3]

References

  1. ↑ "'Merteuil:' French Max Series Starring Anamaria Vartolomei, Diane Kruger & 'Emily In Paris' Actor Lucas Bravo Starts Production". Deadline Hollywood . 17 September 2024. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  2. ↑ "Anamaria Vartolomei, Diane Kruger, Lucas Bravo Begin Shoot for French Max Original Series 'Merteuil,' a Reimagining of 'Dangerous Liaisons'". Variety . 17 September 2024. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  3. 1 2 "HBO Max's Spicy French-Language Drama 'The Seduction' Gets Trailer". Deadline Hollywood . 16 October 2025. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  4. ↑ "Max Originals 'The Penguin' & 'Dune: Prophecy' Moving To HBO". Deadline Hollywood . 11 July 2025. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  5. ↑ "Merteuil, la série adaptée des Liaisons dangereuses arrive cet automne". Vogue France (in French). 17 October 2025. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  6. ↑ "C'est tourné près de chez vous". Val-d'Oise (in French). 12 December 2024. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
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