All About Prime Video’s Cruel Intentions: Key Details You Need to Know

The highly anticipated series adaptation of Cruel Intentions is set to debut on Prime Video on November 21, 2024. On October 24, 2024, the streaming service unveiled the initial trailer for this new show, which draws inspiration from the iconic 1999 film Cruel Intentions, featuring a talented cast that included Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, Reese Witherspoon, and Selma Blair.

In this modern tale, privilege and influence dominate the elite environment of Manchester College in Washington, D.C. Here, stepsiblings Caroline Merteuil (played by Sarah Catherine Hook) and Lucien Belmont (Zac Burgess) must navigate an intricately woven web of seduction and deception, especially when a notorious hazing incident threatens to disrupt their social supremacy.

In a drastic bid to preserve their status, they plot to kidnap Annie Grover (Savannah Lee Smith), the innocent daughter of the U.S. Vice President. The film also features John Harlan Kim, Khobe Clarke, Brooke Lena Johnson, and Sean Patrick Thomas, who reprises a significant role from the initial movie.

Overview of the Original Cruel Intentions Film

The original Cruel Intentions, released in 1999 and directed by Roger Kumble, takes the classic 1782 book Les Liaisons Dangereuses and sets it in a contemporary American high school context. The film features Sarah Michelle Gellar and Ryan Phillippe as the rich, cunning stepsiblings Kathryn and Sebastian, who engage in a sinister bet.

To win the wager, Sebastian must seduce Annette, the naïve daughter of their school’s headmaster, portrayed by Reese Witherspoon, all while embroiled in themes of seduction, betrayal, and ethical complexities.

With a cast that also included Selma Blair, Joshua Jackson, and Tara Reid, the film gained a cult following due to its provocative themes and captivating soundtrack, notably featuring “Bitter Sweet Symphony”by The Verve. Despite mixed critical reviews, it enjoyed substantial box office success, grossing an estimated $75 million worldwide against a modest budget of $10.9 million.

A TV prequel titled Manchester Prep was initially in the works but was deemed too explicit and later released as Cruel Intentions 2, with a young Amy Adams stepping into Gellar’s original role. Additionally, a direct-to-video sequel was produced, and a pilot starring Gellar was created in 2015, although it never progressed to a full series.

Given its enduring appeal, Cruel Intentions continues to inspire fresh adaptations, with a new series developed by Sara Goodman and Phoebe Fisher, sponsored by Sony Pictures Television and Amazon MGM Studios.

Plot Synopsis of the New Cruel Intentions Series

This contemporary reimagining delves into the intense social rivalries at Manchester College, a prestigious institution where sororities and fraternities uphold a rigid social order.

At its center are the stepsiblings Caroline Merteuil and Lucien Belmont, who will go to great lengths to maintain their fragile grasp on power within a notably harsh environment. However, when violence threatens to shake the foundations of the Greek community, the interests of this unlikely pair must be set aside, urging them to take drastic measures to preserve their dominance.

In their quest for control, they draw innocent Annie Grover—daughter of the Vice President—into their intricate game of manipulation. Engaged in a battle for power and reputation, where appearances are everything, Caroline and Lucien weave a complex narrative of seduction and intrigue, testing the boundaries of loyalty among their elite social circle.

This high-stakes series reimagines Manchester College as a modern-day royal landscape, rife with hidden secrets, shattered hearts, and an unyielding quest for status.

Main Cast of Cruel Intentions on Prime Video

Check out the exciting cast lineup for the forthcoming series:

• Sarah Catherine Hook as Caroline Merteuil
• Zac Burgess as Lucien Belmont
• Chobe Clarke as Scott
• Brooke Lena Johnson as Scott
• Sara Silva as CeCe Carroway
• John Harlan Kim as Blaise
• Savannah Lee Smith as Annie Grover
• Sean Patrick Thomas as Professor Chadwick
• Laura Benanti as Claudia, Caroline’s mother
• Jon Tenney as U.S. Congressman Russell
• Claire Forlani
• Nikki Crawford
• Isabella Cut
• Zeke Goodman

Don’t miss the launch of Cruel Intentions on Amazon Prime Video on November 21, 2024.

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