Amazon Prime Video has released new images and plot details for their upcoming reboot of the cult classic dark romance Cruel Intentions. These new images come as part of an interview co-showrunners Sara Goodman and Phoebe Fisher had with Entertainment Weekly. Amazon announced the reboot in October 2021, with the new series described as a modern re-imagining of the ’90s cult classic film of the same name.
In the images, we see the ensemble of characters attending various events and parties. Sarah Catherine Hook and Zac Burgess will assume the roles of the scheming step-siblings, Caroline Merteuil and Lucien Belmont. Savannah Lee Smith portrays newcomer Annie Grover, daughter of the Vice President of the United States. The story follows the twisted and scandalous machinations of two step-siblings as they attempt to seduce the young woman, with one image showing a steamy moment between Lucien and Annie in a swimming pool. You can check out the first look images from Cruel Intentions below.
Cruel Intentions was adapted from the French novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses written by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’ in 1782. The original film starred Michelle Gellar, Reese Witherspoon, and Ryan Phillippe. It celebrated it’s 25th anniversary this March. Phillippe and Gellar were cast following the success of the 1997 horror classic I Know What You Did Last Summer, which Amazon also rebooted as a television series in 2021. However, that series was canceled after one season with a legacy sequel now in the works.
How Will The Story of Cruel Intentions Change for the Reboot?
In the original film, the siblings are emboldened by their competitive relationship and sexual attraction, to make wagers and toy with others around them. For the most part, Kathryn and Sebastian encourage each other’s vices and revel in the intrigues of New York society. In their world, where status and reputation are everything, sex, influence, and power are all just currency. That is until Annie comes into the story and turns their game upside down.
The series will approach the sordid and transformational tale through a modern lens, making some minor changes to the plot. Co-showrunners Sara Goodman and Phoebe Fisher have taken the Catholic Manhattan private school setting of the film and swapped it for a sorority setting. The plot follows the step-siblings as they struggle to maintain their social status at college after a public hazing incident puts their Greek life in jeopardy. In the interview, Goodman and Fisher described how Greek life culture at American universities will reflect the spirit of the original film while adding more nuance, taking the opportunity to explore modern pressures on teens like rising tuition costs, paying chapter dues, diversity and LGBTQ+. Despite this, Goodman explains how the series will also remain “timeless.”
“It is modern, but we don’t do social media. It feels like our characters read newspapers. We really wanted to put it in this kind of timeless place.”
This is an intriguing decision, compared to similar series like 2021’s failed Gossip Girl reboot on Max, which struggled to thoroughly explore the pervasive side effects of social media and resonate with audiences.
The Cruel Intentions film was praised for its striking and dynamic costume design for each character. Annie’s light colored wardrobe palette was youthful, preppy, and innocent. This was an intentional contrast to Kathryn and Sebastian’s mature, designer-labeled, all-black ensembles. Gellar also debuted a sultry brunette hairstyle to distinguish her character, Kathryn Merteuil, from her best known role, Buffy from Buffy The Vampire Slayer. When discussing the style legacy of Cruel Intentions for CNN earlier this year, Jemal Polson noted:
“In Kathryn’s first scene, Sarah Michelle Gellar wears a Dolce & Gabbana suit paired with a custom corset Wingate says was a direct nod to [
Dangerous Liaisons
]. While Donna Karan, Gucci and Calvin Klein featured in the characters’ wardrobes, Ryan Phillippe was sent “a big box of clothes” from Prada for his Sebastian character, as the actor had recently modelled for the luxury Italian house, Wingate said. Christine Baranski, who appears as Bunny Caldwell – Cecile’s WASP-y mother – was adorned in Chanel-style suits from St John.”
Fans of the movie will surely be looking for callbacks to the film and source material. Intentional costuming will certainly help, with the series also confirmed to feature an appearance from actor Sean Patrick Thomas, from the original cast. It will certainly be interesting to see how the creators approach this cut-throat world for the modern age.
Cruel Intentions
will premiere in November on Prime Video.