Another attempt is underway to adapt the 1999 teen romance drama film Cruel Intentions into a series; this time for IMDb TV.
This latest pilot, which comes about five years after NBC passed on a sequel series, will be written by Phoebe Fisher (Euphoria) and Sara Goodman (original Gossip Girl), while Neal H. Moritz (Fast & Furious franchise), who produced the original Cruel Intentions film, is among the executive producers, according to TVLine.
While no cast has been attached to the new project, the potential series will be set in Washington, D.C., and center on two ruthless step-siblings who will do anything to stay at the top of the Greek Life hierarchy at their elite college.
Series adaption: Another attempt to adapt the 1999 teen romantic drama film Cruel Intentions into a series is underway for IMDb TV; the original film, starring Reese Witherspoon, Ryan Phillippe, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Selma Blair, has turned into a cult classic over the years
As the story progresses, a brutal hazing incident threatens the entire Panhellenic system, and they’ll do whatever is necessary to preserve their power and reputations, which includes seducing the daughter of the vice president of the United States.
Cruel Intentions was based on the Choderlos de Laclos novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses, which was first made into the 1988 film Dangerous Liaisons starring John Malkovich, Glenn Close and Michelle Pfeiffer, as well as young unknowns Uma Thurman and Keanu Reeves.
The 1999 film adaptation tells the story of step brother and sister Sebastian and Kathryn – played by Ryan Phillippe and Sarah Michelle Gellar – who wager a bet on whether or not he can trick Annette – played by Reese Witherspoon – into falling in love with him.
New iteration: While no cast has been attached to the new project, the potential series will be set in Washington, D.C., and center on two ruthless step-siblings who will do anything to stay at the top of the Greek Life hierarchy at their elite college
Initially, Cruel Intentions, which also starred Selma Blair, received mixed reviews from critics, but still it would go on to become a breakout hit in 1999, grossing $75.9 million at the worldwide box office on a $10.5 million budget.
And over the years the film, written and directed by Roger Kumble, has had longevity with audiences, both old and news, by becoming a cult classic staple.
This new iteration is just one of several attempts to adapt Cruel Intentions.
First: Cruel Intentions was based on the Choderlos de Laclos novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses, which was first made into the 1988 film Dangerous Liaisons starring John Malkovich, Glenn Close and Michelle Pfeiffer, as well as young unknowns Uma Thurman and Keanu Reeves
In 2016, NBC ordered to pilot a follow-up series that would take place 16 years after the events of the film, with Gellar set to return as Kathryn. But ultimately the pilot was not given a series order, and it failed to find a home elsewhere.
Many years earlier, in 1999, Fox attempted to do a prequel series, titled Manchester Prep. But again, the project would eventually be scrapped, but not before three of the produced episodes were turned into a direct-to-video film, Cruel Intentions 2, which was released in 2001.
There would also be another D-T-V sequel, Cruel Intentions 3, in 2004.
Recreating the magic: There have been several attempts to adapt Cruel Intentions into a series, including one by NBC in 2016 and by Fox in 1999; the original film was a bonafide hit, grossing $75.9 million at the worldwide box office on a $10.5 million budget