Cruel Intentions (franchise)

''Cruel Intentions'' is an American drama media franchise owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, and consisting of three feature films and a television series. It is based on Pierre Choderlos de Laclos' 1782 novel ''Les Liaisons dangereuses'', with all installments being modern retelling of the story.

Films

''Cruel Intentions'' (1999)

In New York City, wealthy teenager Sebastian Valmont regularly manipulates and seduces women, but wants to find someone who poses a challenge to his charm. He settles on Annette Hargrove—the daughter of his new school headmaster—who is staunchly opposed to sex before falling in love. Sebastian and his equally manipulative stepsister, the intelligent and popular Kathryn Merteuil, agree to a bet: if Sebastian fails to seduce Annette then Kathryn gets his vintage Jaguar XK140; if he wins Kathryn will finally have sex with him.

Kathryn also tries to recruit Sebastian into her own scheme to take revenge on her ex-boyfriend Court Reynolds, who left her because of her promiscuity and began dating the naive and innocent Cecile Caldwell.

''Cruel Intentions 2'' (2000)

''Cruel Intentions 2'' serves as a prequel to the first film.

Troublemaker student Sebastian Valmont is transferring to Manchester Prep following his father's new marriage to a wealthy divorcée. Upon his arrival in New York City, Sebastian discovers the wealth of his new family and first meets his deceitful and determined stepsister Kathryn Merteuil.

''Cruel Intentions 3'' (2004)

Jason Argyle and Patrick Bates are roommates at an exclusive Santa Barbara college. They pull off a devious plan where Patrick beds Kathryn's cousin, Cassidy Merteuil, to disrupts a potential relationship she had been pursuing with a British prince.

Television

Canceled prequel series

In 1999, Fox gave a straight-to-series order for a prequel television series titled ''Manchester Prep'', with Roger Kumble returning to write, executive produce and direct some episodes. 13 episodes were ordered for the 1999–2000 television season.

During production, there were conflicts between production company Columbia TriStar Television and the network due to creative concerns. Executives were also uncomfortable with the themes of teen sexuality and incest, while Rupert Murdoch, head of Fox parent News Corporation, was said to be outraged after seeing a news story about ''Manchester Prep'' that previewed a scene in which one of the young female characters is sexually aroused by a horse. When the project was canceled, only two episodes where already filmed.

The two episodes were edited together into the 2000 direct-to-video film ''Cruel Intentions 2'', and additional scenes where filmed to close the story and to add sex scenes involving nudity.

Sequel series pilot

NBC picked up a television pilot for a continuation of the film's storyline in October 2015. The pilot was set seventeen years after the events of the film and sees Bash Casey, son of Sebastian Valmont and Annette Hargrove, discover his late father's journal. Upon discovering this he is thrown into a world of lies, sex, and power. The potential series was to have Kathryn Merteuil, Bash's step-aunt, attempt to gain power of Valmont International.

In February 2016, Taylor John Smith and Samantha Logan were cast, with Smith playing the male lead role of Bash Casey, Sebastian Valmont and Annette Hargrove's son. Sarah Michelle Gellar reached a deal with producers to reprise her role as the female lead, Kathryn Merteuil. In March, Kate Levering was cast to replace Reese Witherspoon for the role of Annette Hargrove.

Several months later, on October 31, NBC passed on the project and the series did not go forward.

''Cruel Intentions'' (2024)

In October 2021, Amazon Studios announced that a new project was being developed with eight episodes later ordered for Amazon Prime Video. The television series is a reboot of the first film story but is taking place in an entirely different setting from the original film.

It follows 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.

In March 2025, Amazon Prime Video canceled the series after one season.

Principal and recurring cast

Additional crew and production details

Reception

Box office performance

Critical and public response

Music

Other media

Musical

A 2015 American jukebox musical with a score made up of hit songs from the 1990s. The musical's book is by Roger Kumble, Lindsey Rosin and Jordan Ross. After successful performances in Los Angeles and New York, the show made its Off-Broadway debut at Greenwich Village nightclub Le Poisson Rouge in November 2017. The show was the first theater production ever staged there, which offered bar and table service. Originally scheduled for a ten-week engagement, the show was extended three times, through April 2018.

The show had its UK debut in August 2019 at the Palais du Variété Spiegeltent at Assembly George Square Gardens, part of the Edinburgh Fringe festival, starring Dominic Andersen as Sebastian and Rebecca Gilhooley as Kathryn Merteuil, produced by Bill Kenwright. The show opened at The Other Palace in London in January 2024, where it was scheduled to run until May, starring Daniel Bravo as Sebastian and Rhianne-Louise McCaulsky as Kathryn.

References

{{Sony franchises

Cruel Intentions (franchise)
Film franchises
Film series introduced in 1999
Columbia Pictures franchises
Sony Pictures franchises
Works based on Les Liaisons dangereuses