Back in 2016, NBC shot a pilot for a “Cruel Intentions” sequel series – one that served as a follow-up to the cult 1999 film, which served as a contemporary spin on “Dangerous Liaisons”.
Set seventeen years after the events of the film, the series followed Bash Casey (Taylor John Smith) – the son of Sebastian Valmont (Ryan Phillippe) and Annette Hargrove (Reese Witherspoon) – who discovers his late father’s journal. He is soon thrown into a world of lies, sex and power.
The series also saw actress Sarah Michelle Geller reprise her role of Kathryn Merteuil, Bash’s step-aunt, who attempts to gain power over Valmont International. After it was completed, NBC announced that it had passed on the project.
Now Gellar, speaking with The New York Times, says she’s grateful the pilot wasn’t picked up:
“That was a whole crazy time. Nothing against NBC, but Cruel Intentions is straight streaming. On the first day, I was like, ‘This isn’t working.’ It’s just not a network show. And if it is a network show, it’s not my Cruel Intentions. So, I was actually grateful.”
Sony Pictures Television tried to shop the pilot around to other networks back in early 2017, but no-one wanted it and the series fell by the wayside. Last year came the announcement that IMDb TV was working on an updated version of the movie, albeit set in the world of politics.
