Like The Craft, Cruel Intentions was a ‘90s movie (emphasis on ‘90s) that was not well-received by critics but still developed a cult-like following. Moreso than The Craft, Cruel Intentions was assisted in this by a respectable box office, two direct-to-video follow-ups, and a cast that included young future-stars in Reese Witherspoon, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Philippe and Joshua Jackson. You’d think the direct-to-video prequel and sequel would meet the demand for any follow-up to the fiim, but the desire to cash in on people’s nostalgia with an already-established brand is too big. Accordingly, like The Craft before it, Cruel Intentions is making a comeback.

TV Line has shared the news that NBC has ordered a pilot for a Cruel Intentions sequel TV series. The show will take place 15 years after the events of the original film and follow the son of Sebastian, played by Ryan Philippe in the original.


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Image via Colombia Pictures

In the original film, wealthy step-siblings Sebastian and Kathryn make a bet of whether or not Sebastian can seduce Annette, the daughter of their school’s new headmaster, played by Reese Witherspoon. If so, he gets to sleep with Kathryn, and if not she gets his car. (SPOILER ALERT) Of course, Sebastian falls in love with Annette in his quest, and it is love rather than the bet that motivates him to…’win.’ Kathryn becomes jealous and threatens to ruin Annette’s reputation, forcing Sebastian to end his relationship with Annette. Kathryn also manipulates a fight between Sebastian and a friend. When Annette tries to break it up, she finds herself in front of traffic, where Sebastian pushes her out of the way. He gets hit by a car, but before dying, he and Annette profess their love for one another. In the end, Sebastian’s journal, where he detailed the bet and Kathryn’s scheming, is made into a book called “Cruel Intentions.”

It would appear Sebastian went above and beyond said bet, as he evidently got Annette pregnant in the process. Now, Annette's journey from having her first love killed, leaving home, and then raising his child on her own would be interesting enough, but the show will focus on the son. Here is the official logline for the pilot:

Cruel Intentions picks up over 15 years after the hit movie left off. It follows the beautiful and cunning Kathryn Merteuil as she vies for control of Valmont International as well as the soul of Bash Casey, the son of her brother, who was the late Sebastian Valmont, and Annette Hargrove. Upon discovering his late father’s legacy in a hidden journal, Bash is introduced to a world of sex, money, power and corruption he never could have imagined.

It seems Kathryn’s exposed role in that whole step-brother-being-manipulated-and-dying didn’t prevent her from inheriting the family business. And sounds like she really had a thing for Sebastian, as now she has turned her focus on his son Bash (let’s hope ‘Bash’ is a nickname for ‘Sebastian Jr.’). Also, one would think Bash discovering the journal would make him not want to associate with his aunt, but legacy and inheritance are powerful things. Like always, his mom Annette didn’t reveal everything, leaving someone else to fill in the details.

There is no indication that any of the principal actors would return, but Sarah Michelle Gellar recently made a return to TV in the form of a voice role on Star Wars Rebels, so I guess it’s not entirely out of the question.


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