Cruel Intentions (TV series)
Cruel Intentions | |
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Genre | Drama |
Based on | Cruel Intentions by Roger Kumble Les Liaisons dangereuses by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos |
Developed by |
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Starring |
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Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 1 |
No. of episodes | 8 |
Production | |
Executive producers |
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Production locations | Toronto, Ontario |
Camera setup | Single-camera |
Production companies |
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Original release | |
Network | Amazon Prime Video |
Release | November 21, 2024 |
Cruel Intentions is an American television series developed 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 cancellation 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.
Premise
[edit]Two step siblings at a Washington D.C. college 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
[edit]Main
[edit]- Sarah Catherine Hook as Caroline Merteuil, Lucien's step-sister[3]
- Zac Burgess as Lucien Belmont, Caroline's step-brother[3]
- Savannah Lee Smith as Annie Grover, daughter of the Vice President[3]
- Sara Silva as CeCe Carroway[3]
- John Harlan Kim as Blaise Powell
- Khobe Clarke as Scott Russell
- Sean Patrick Thomas as Professor Hank Chadwick
- Brooke Lena Johnson as Beatrice Worth
Recurring
[edit]- Laura Benanti as Claudia Merteuil, Caroline's mother
- Jon Tenney as U.S. Congressman Russell
- Claire Forlani
- Nikki Crawford
- Isabella Tagliati
- Zeke Goodman
Episodes
[edit]No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "Alpha" | TBA | Story by : Phoebe Fisher & Sara Goodman Teleplay by : Phoebe Fisher | November 21, 2024 |
2 | "Beta" | TBA | Story by : Phoebe Fisher & Sara Goodman Teleplay by : Phoebe Fisher | November 21, 2024 |
3 | "Gamma" | TBA | Nicholas Strain | November 21, 2024 |
4 | "Delta" | TBA | Chaconne Martin-Berkowicz | November 21, 2024 |
5 | "Epsilon" | TBA | Des Moran | November 21, 2024 |
6 | "Zeta" | TBA | Valerie Armstrong | November 21, 2024 |
7 | "Eta" | TBA | TBA | November 21, 2024 |
8 | "Theta" | TBA | Phoebe Fisher & Sara Goodman | November 21, 2024 |
Production
[edit]Development
[edit]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 the producing the series.[2] Eight episodes were ordered for Amazon Prime Video instead of Amazon Freevee.[8]
Casting
[edit]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
[edit]The series began shooting in June 2023 in Toronto.[9][10]
Release
[edit]The series was released on November 21, 2024 on Amazon Prime Video.[11]
Reception
[edit]The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 25% approval rating with an average rating of 5.6/10, based on 8 critic reviews.[12] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 37 out of 100 based on 6 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable" reviews.[13]
References
[edit]- ^ Kaufman, Anna. "The 'Cruel Intentions' reboot gets its steamy first trailer: Watch". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
- ^ a b c 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.
- ^ a b c d "'Cruel Intentions' Series Merges 1999 Film's Salacious Step-Sibling Love Triangle with Modern-Day Greek Life: See the Trailer". People.com. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
- ^ Wagmeister, Elizabeth (31 October 2016). "'Cruel Intentions' Not Moving Forward at NBC, Sony TV Shopping Reboot".
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (31 October 2016). "'Cruel Intentions' Not Going Forward At NBC, To Be Shopped Elsewhere By Sony".
- ^ Goldberg, Lesley (October 1, 2021). "Cruel Intentions Update in the Works at Amazon's IMDb TV". The Hollywood Reporter. PMRC. Archived from the original on October 1, 2022. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
- ^ Ausiello, Michael (April 4, 2023). "Cruel Intentions TV Adaptation Ordered to Series (Finally!) at Amazon". TVLine. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
- ^ a b Petski, Denise (December 4, 2023). "Cruel Intentions Series Order Confirmed At Prime Video; Full Cast Set". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "What's Shooting". ACTRA Toronto. ACTRA. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Cruel Intentions: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
- ^ "Cruel Intentions: Season 1". Metacritic. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
External links
[edit]- 2024 American television series debuts
- Amazon Prime Video original programming
- Cruel Intentions (franchise)
- Live action television shows based on films
- Television series by Amazon MGM Studios
- Television series by Sony Pictures Television
- Television shows set in Washington, D.C.
- Works based on Les Liaisons dangereuses