NBC passes on “Cruel Intentions” series

PanARMENIAN.Net - NBC has decided not to move forward with the “Cruel Intentions” TV series, TheWrap has confirmed.

NBC bought the script in October with a commitment plus a penalty from the film’s original director and writer Roger Kumble. He co-wrote the project with Lindsey Rosin and Jordan Ross, best known for staging the musical version of “Cruel Intentions” in Los Angeles last summer.

Kumble previously tried to bring “Cruel Intentions” to TV with a series called “Manchester Prep.” It was scrapped by Fox prior to the airing of the first episode in 1999, due to risqué scenes. It starred Robin Dunne, Amy Adams and Keri Lynn Pratt and was then adapted into a straight-to-DVD sequel “Cruel Intentions 2.”

Besides Gellar, “Cruel Intentions” had already cast Kate Levering, Taylor John Smith (“American Crime”), Samantha Logan, Sophina Brown and Nathalie Kelley.

The pilot was to pick up over 15 years after the conclusion of the movie, which was an adaptation of French novel “Les Liaisons Dangereuses” by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos.

It follows Kathryn Merteuil (Gellar, reprising her film role) as she vies for control of Valmont International as well as the soul of Bash Casey, the son of her stepbrother, the late Sebastian Valmont (Ryan Phillippe) and Annette Hargrove (Reese Witherspoon).