Reviving ‘Cruel Intentions’: Cast and Creators Explore a New Generation of Seduction and Power Plays

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Nov 23

The reimagined Cruel Intentions, set at a fictional college, aims to recapture the sultry essence of the original while introducing new characters. Showrunners Sara Goodman and Phoebe Fisher explain their decision to set the story within a Greek Life environment and how this setting influences character motivations. The cast, featuring Sarah Catherine Hook and Zac Burgess, discussed their roles and the creative process.

Cruel Intentions Red Carpet:

Cast And Creators Talk Reimagining a Sexy Classic

Amazon MGM Studios and Sony Pictures Television recreated the spirit of 1999 for the Los Angeles premiere of the Cruel Intentions reimagining. Set in the fictional Manchester College in Washington D.C., the show updates the 1999 film directed by Roger Kumble, itself an adaptation of the 1782 French novel Dangerous Liaisons. The creators, Sara Goodman and Phoebe Fisher, spoke about the unique setting, with Greek Life serving as a royal court in this modern context.

"Greek Life was a place that we hadn’t really seen as a royal court," Goodman explained, "a setting with all these rites and rituals that feel antiquated yet still hold power today." The choice of Washington D.C. added layers to the narrative. Fisher noted, "These people are products of their upbringing, so what better place to explore power dynamics than D.C.?"

The story remains true to its roots but introduces fresh characters. Sarah Catherine Hook and Zac Burgess take on roles akin to Kathryn Merteuil and Sebastian Valmont. Hook, who plays Caroline Merteuil, noted how the creative team fostered originality: "We created Caroline’s voice together. It wasn’t a copy-paste. They wanted a fresh take, which made the process collaborative and reduced the pressure of imitation."

Zac Burgess, who portrays Lucien Belmont—a surrogate for Ryan Phillippe’s character—admitted he hadn’t seen the original film. "I got to work with the showrunners to break down Lucien’s mannerisms, his characteristics, likes, and dislikes," said Burgess. "This made my job easier because I had so much information to work with."

The cast includes Savannah Lee Smith, who plays Annie Grover, the vice president’s daughter and object of Caroline and Lucien’s manipulations. Smith explained that her character, unlike Reese Witherspoon’s Annette Hargrove, is more self-aware: "Annie knows what’s going on and clocks the games people play, but lets her heart get in the way sometimes."

Sarah Silva’s portrayal of CeCe—Caroline’s sidekick and comedic relief—is a new take on Selma Blair’s Cecile. "CeCe’s incredibly intelligent but often misses social cues," said Silva. "Her frenetic energy makes her a source of humor." Original cast member Sean Patrick Thomas also returned, reprising a modified version of his character as Professor Hank Chadwick. Thomas shared his excitement about reentering this world: "It’s a challenge to make it different, but it’s also a thrill to revisit these characters."

John Harlan Kim, who plays queer fraternity brother Blaise Powell, drew inspiration from Joshua Jackson’s Blaine. "I’m a huge Joshua Jackson fan," said Kim. "I wanted to blend what he did with the new elements brought by the writers for a rendition that’s both fresh and familiar."

Claire Forlani joins the ensemble as Caroline’s mother, Claudia, who is an original addition to the cast but provides key context to Caroline and Lucien’s upbringing. "Once you meet Claudia, you understand why Lucien and Caroline are the way they are. It’s the trickle-down effect," said Forlani, comparing her character to Glenn Close’s Marquise de Merteuil from Dangerous Liaisons (1988).