Adaptations
‘Cruel Intentions’ Welcomes New Class: 6 Nods to Original Movie We Spotted in First Trailer
Cruel Intentions fans, it’s our time. Prime Video dropped the first trailer for the upcoming series of the same name, which is based on the iconic 1999 movie (and Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’ 1782 novel Les Liasions Dangereuses).
Naturally, those who have watched the deliciously wicked movie starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, Reese Witherspoon, and Ryan Phillippe over and over again will want to know how much the TV show is paying homage to the film. Well, the trailer proves that the series is honoring the movie in all the best ways. Don’t you worry, The Verve’s legendary song “Bitter Sweet Symphony” is the trailer music.
In this new adaptation, Cruel Intentions follows the elite students of Manchester College, a Washington, D.C.-adjacent university, where reputation means everything, fraternities and sororities are the gold standard, and two ruthless stepsiblings, Caroline Merteuil (Sarah Catherine Hook) and Lucien Belmont (Zac Burgess), will do anything to stay on top of the cutthroat social hierarchy. After a brutal hazing incident threatens the entire Greek life system, they’ll do whatever is necessary to preserve their power and reputation – even if that means seducing Annie Grover (Savannah Lee Smith), the daughter of the Vice President of the United States. Hearts will be broken, loyalties will be tested, and secrets will be revealed in this modern-day royal court that is Manchester College.
The series will consist of eight episodes and also stars Sara Silva as Cece Carroway, John Harlan Kim as Blaise Powell, Khobe Clarke as Scott Russell, Sean Patrick Thomas as Professor Hank Chadwick, and Brooke Lena Johnson as Beatrice Worth. Scroll down to see the nods to the original movie we spotted in the trailer, which you can watch in full above!
Cruel Intentions, Series Premiere, November 21, Prime Video
1. Caroline and Lucien embrace Katherine and Sebastian vibes
The crux of the deal is still the same as the movie. Lucien needs to seduce the vice president’s daughter. (In the movie, Annette is the daughter of the new school headmaster.) If he succeeds, he gets what he really wants: a night with Caroline. The trailer shows a glimpse of an intimate moment between Caroline and Lucien, and the scene is eerily similar to the sexually-charged moment between Katherine and Sebastian in the movie.
2. The pool scene
In the movie, Sebastian (who is fully naked) and Annette have a very flirty swim in the pool. The series pays homage to this iconic scene with Annie and Lucien.
3. Sebastian/Lucien's car
Sebastian’s car, the 1956 Jaguar XK140, is a notable character in the movie. The Prime Video series understands the importance of the vintage vehicle, and we see a version of the roadster pop up in the trailer.
4. Annie and Caroline recreate Cece and Katherine's kiss?
Katherine teaching Cece how to kiss in Central Park is one of the most memorable (and hottest) moments in Cruel Intentions. The series appears to be inspired by that steamy lip lock in this intimate Anne and Caroline scene.
5. Sean Patrick Thomas
Thomas played Ron Clifford in the 1999 movie, and now he’s a part of the TV series 25 years later. However, he’s not playing Ron in the show. The actor is playing a new character named Professor Hank Chadwick. Will Hank repeat some of Ron’s mistakes? (He basically killed Sebastian!)
6. Katherine/Caroline's cross necklace
They couldn’t do a Cruel Intentions TV series without bringing in the iconic cross necklace. In the movie, Katherine wears this necklace, portraying an act of purity to everyone around her. But inside the necklace is cocaine, and Katherine takes bumps of it throughout the film. Looks like Caroline has the same dirty little secret.
