Quick Links
Widely regarded as one of the best teen dramas of the ’90s and a certifiedcult classic hit, the delightfully wickedCruel Intentionscaptivated audiences all across the world with the sensational performances of its talented lead trio Sarah Michelle Gellar, Reese Witherspoon, and Ryan Phillippe, serving as a modern adaptation of the classic novelLes Liaisons dangereuses.
The silver screen staple follows the complicated love triangle that forms between the wealthy and manipulative step-siblings Sebastian Valmont and Kathryn Merteuil as the troublemaking teens set their sights on the virginal Annette Hargrove after waging a dangerous bet. A massive commercial success that sparked a major pop culture moment,Cruel Intentionsled toHollywood producers trying to replicate the impact of the original, ultimately leading to total failure.
It’s been 25 years since the debut ofCruel Intentions,anda television adaptation has finally come to fruition at Prime Videoafter countless hurdles and setbacks over the years, with the series set to premiere on August 07, 2025. However, the upcoming drama is not the first time the small screen has tried to tackle the cult classic; let’s get into the details of the trainwreck that wasManchester Prep.
Cruel Intentions
‘Cruel Intentions’ Was a Fan-Favorite Teen Drama Classic
Touting a star-studded ensemble cast of some of Hollywood’s then finest up-and-comers, including Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe,and Reese Witherspoon, the 1999 romantic teen dramaCruel Intentionsis an electrifying adaptation of the timeless Pierre Choderlos de Laclos novelLes Liaisons dangereusesand takes place at a prestigious Manhattan prep school where the manipulative and perpetually scheming step-siblings Sebastian Valmont (Phillippe) and Kathryn Merteuil (Gellar) constantly get their way.
10 Classic Teen Movies That Haven’t Aged Well
The thing about classic movies is that they rarely age well as times change. What makes these teen movies problematic today?
When Kathryn wagers a not-so-friendly bet with Sebastian and challenges him to seduce their new headmaster’s virginal daughter, Annette Hargrove (Witherspoon), the notorious playboy sees the wager as a sure-fire way to finally get what he’s long since desired: a chance to be with Kathryn. However, if Sebastian fails, his devious step-sister will get his beloved vintage Jaguar Roadster. Naturally, things get complicated when the lothario accidentally falls in love with Annette, leading to a series of devastating events.
Cruel Intentionswent on to become a massive success at the box office, grossing $76 million against a $10.5 million budget and further skyrocketing its talented cast to superstardom. Jam-packed full of epic pop culture moments, including the iconic kissbetween Gellar and Selma Blair, the drama dazzled moviegoers and emerged as a certified cult classic, with Hollywood producers hoping to capitalize on its universal allure and create a television adaptation of the hit film. However, like most reboots and remakes, recapturing the magic of the original movie proved to be quite the challenge.
Multiple ‘Cruel Intentions’ TV Adaptations Crash and Burn
Fresh off the massive commercial and fan success ofCruel Intentions,a television adaptation of the mega-hit film was quickly put in development, with the series initially being calledManchester Prep.Initially re-imagined as a prequel that explored the backstories of the troublemaking Sebastian Valmont and Kathryn Merteuil, the dramedy featured Robin Dunneand Amy Adamstaking over the diabolical roles and chronicles Sebastian’s move to New York City after his father marries Kathryn’s socialite mother, setting the stage for their many intricate and conniving schemes.The show would have focused on the calculating duo’s unhealthy and deeply competitive relationship.
How the Cruel Intentions Series Connects to the Original Movie
It has been 25 years since the ’90s cult classic Cruel Intentions first premiered, and now the film will be reimagined on the small screen.
Fox had initially set out to produce the TV version, ordering 13 episodes of the series with originalCruel Intentionsdirector Roger Kumble returning for the project and serving as an executive producer and writer. In fact, Fox was so optimistic that the adaptation would be a runaway hit that they scheduled the show to lead their Thursday night lineup in the winter of 1999; alas,Manchester Prepwas ultimately put on hold in Septemberof that yeardue to Fox wanting to"to get its house in order" after leaked footage sparked controversy.
WhenEntertainment Tonightreleased footage of a young female character being sexually aroused from riding a horse, media mogul and the head of Fox’s parent company, News Corporation, Rupert Murdoch, was outraged after the news story broke, as was an undisclosed parents' television group. Though the network tried to downplay the uproar,the studio gaveManchester Prepthe ax a month later, with Fox citing creative differences,prompting Columbia TriStar Home Video to retool the two existing episodes and create the direct-to-video release simply namedCruel Intentions 2.
Prime Video Gets a ‘Cruel Intentions’ TV Show Right 25 Years Later
After the TV trainwreck that wasManchester Prep,the small screen decided to take another stab at creating a proper adaptation ofCruel Intentions,this time with NBC picking up a pilot for the sequel series in 2015 that would serve as a continuation of the original film’s storyline.Sarah Michelle Gellar had even reached a dealto reprise her role as Kathryn Merteuil in the spin-off, which would have taken place 17 years after the events of the movie and would have focused on Sebastian and Annette’s son Bash Casey as he discovers his late father’s journal and subsequently gets swept up in a web of lies and deception.
Despite its promising premise, NBC opted not to follow through with the project, and it wouldn’t be until nearly a decade later that an adaptation would finally come to fruition.Prime Video has created a new seriesthat will serve as a modern-day retelling of the ’90s hit and will take place on a prominent Washington D.C. campus where step-siblings Caroline Merteuil (Sarah Catherine Hook) and Lucien Belmont (Zac Burgess) set out to preserve their Greek social life status by seducing the Vice President’s daughter Annie Grover (Savannah Lee Smith). Eight episodes of the buzzed-about reimagining are set to premiere on June 26, 2025.StreamCruel IntentionsonFreevee.
