The journey of bringing “Cruel Intentions” to television has come to an unfortunate end. Variety has exclusively reported that the TV series on Amazon Prime Video has been canceled after just one season. The show, which premiered in November 2024, was a modern update of the 1999 film of the same name, itself based on the classic novel “Dangerous Liaisons.”
Originally set up at IMDB TV (now known as Freevee) in 2021, the series was later picked up by Prime Video in late 2023. The cast included Sarah Catherine Hook, Zac Burgess, Savannah Lee Smith, Sara Silva, John Harlan Kim, Khobe Clarke, Sean Patrick Thomas, and Brooke Lena Johnson.
Sara Goodman and Phoebe Fisher served as co-showrunners, writers, and executive producers, with Neal H. Moritz, Pavun Shetty, and Roger Kumble also serving as executive producers. The series was a production of Sony Pictures Television, Amazon MGM Studios, and Original Film.
The show followed the lives of elite students at Manchester College near Washington, D.C., where social hierarchy, fraternities, and sororities reign supreme. The plot revolved around two step-siblings, Caroline Merteuil and Lucien Belmont, who would stop at nothing to maintain their power and reputation, even if it meant manipulating Annie Grover, the Vice President’s daughter.
Despite the promising premise, “Cruel Intentions” failed to capture a significant audience or critical acclaim. The series did not appear on the Nielsen Top 10 Streaming charts and received a low 24% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
This was not the first attempt to bring the story to the small screen. In 2016, NBC ordered a pilot with Sarah Michelle Gellar set to reprise her role from the original film, but the series did not move forward. Fox also tried a prequel series that was canceled before airing, leading to the creation of the direct-to-video film “Cruel Intentions 2” in 2001. Additionally, Sony Pictures produced a second direct-to-video sequel, “Cruel Intentions 3,” in 2004.
The cancellation of “Cruel Intentions” marks the end of a long and tumultuous journey for the beloved story. Fans will have to cherish the original film and novel as the definitive versions of this twisted tale of power, manipulation, and betrayal.
