After announcements and withdrawals, the film “Cruel Intentions” will actually become a series. Prime Video has ordered the production, which will serve as an update to the 1999 film.
The project is entrusted to screenwriters Sara Goodman and Phoebe Fisher, who have already adapted another 90s film, “I Know What You Did Last Summer”, for Prime Video. This time the plot will be set in a prestigious university in Washington, DC.
The journey of adaptation
This project had been in development for two years and was initially going to be shown on Freevee, a free Amazon platform. However, it will now be exclusive to Prime Video.
It’s worth mentioning that the NBC network also flirted with the possibility of turning the film into a series in 2015. That version would return Sarah Michelle Gellar to the role she played in the film and would follow the teenage son of Sebastian Valmont (Ryan Phillippe in the film ) and Annette Hargrove (Reese Witherspoon), when she discovers her father’s old diary and travels to San Francisco to uncover more family secrets. The protagonist would be played by Taylor John Smith (of the “American Crime” series), but network executives did not approve the pilot episode.
It is worth mentioning that “Segundas Intenções” was already an adaptation of another text, a version for teenagers of the classic novel “Dangerous Liaisons”, published by Choderlos de Laclos in 1782. The original work has received several film adaptations, the the most successful was the version directed by Stephen Frears in 1988, with Glenn Close, John Malkovich and Michelle Pfeiffer, which won three Oscars. The production also had a Brazilian version, broadcast as a miniseries on the Globo network.
Despite the frustration of the producers of the first version, Sony Pictures Television, which holds the rights to the film, did not give up on the project and managed to launch a new configuration of the series for the Amazon platform.
Project Statements
“From the cult ’90s film to the 18th-century novel from which it was adapted, ‘Cruel Intentions’ has captivated audiences with a story that transcends time,” Lauren Anderson, head of originals at Amazon, said in a statement MGM Studios. “We are so excited to share the next chapter in the intriguing tale of deception, intelligence and reckoning of ‘Cruel Intentions’ with Prime customers and we couldn’t be more grateful for the commitment, dedication and talent of this entire team : our incredible cast, endlessly intelligent writers, led by Phoebe and Sara, our amazing partners at Sony and Original Film, and the executives who pioneered Amazon MGM Studios,” he added.
The screenwriters also spoke. “We are so excited to work together to continue the legacy of ‘Cruel Intentions,’ a film that continues to be loved by so many, including us!” said Goodman and Fisher. “We promise to make this next version as fun, irreverent and innovative as the original, and we are grateful to our partners at Original Film, Sony and Amazon MGM Studios for trusting us to deliver on our intentions.”
Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
