‘Cruel Intentions’ Series Trailer: The Names Have Been (Slightly) Changed to Protect the Guilty

It’s going to be a cruel (cruel) autumn on Amazon Prime Video.

On Thursday, Prime Video debuted what it called the “enticing” (ew) trailer and premiere date for its “Cruel Intentions” series. All eight episodes will debut on November 21 in the more than 240 countries and territories worldwide in which Amazon Prime Video is available. So, ah, have a super weird family Thanksgiving everyone!

The “Cruel Intentions” series comes 25 years after the iconic film of the same name. Also of the same (or at least similar) names are its “new class of cruel characters,” in Prime Video’s words.

Zac Burgess plays Lucien Belmont, essentially the role Ryan Phillippe played in the 1999 film. (Phillippe’s character was Sebastian Valmont, so the “-mont” remains.) Sarah Catherine Hook plays Caroline Merteuil; in the movie, Sarah Michelle Gellar was Kathryn Merteuil. (OK, so the Sarah/two first names thing is just coincidence.)

Savannah Lee Smith plays Annie Grover, the new Annette Hargrove (Reese Witherspoon). Oh come on.

Sara Silva plays Cece Carroway; Selma Blair’s character in the film was named Cecile Caldwell. John Harlan Kim plays Blaise Powell in the show; Joshua Jackson played Blaine Tuttle. You guys aren’t even trying anymore.

The “Cruel Intentions” series also stars Khobe Clarke as Scott Russell, Sean Patrick Thomas as Professor Hank Chadwick, and Brooke Lena Johnson as Beatrice Worth.

This “Cruel Intentions” follows the elite students of the Washington, D.C.-adjacent Manchester College. There, “reputation means everything, fraternities and sororities are the gold standard, and two ruthless step-siblings, Caroline Merteuil and Lucien Belmont, will do anything to stay on top of the cutthroat social hierarchy,” the show’s synopsis reads. They’re the ones that are gonna do something gross — so long as Lucien can first seduce Annie Grover, the daughter of the VP of the U.S. It’s all a weird power thing, especially for Caroline.

“Hearts will be broken, loyalties will be tested, and secrets will be revealed in this modern-day royal court that is Manchester College,” the logline teases. Teasing — also a big Caroline thing!

“Cruel Intentions” is produced by Sony Pictures Television, Amazon MGM Studios, and Original Film. Sara Goodman and Phoebe Fisher are co-showrunners, writers, and executive producers. Neal H. Moritz, who produced the original film, is also among the show’s EPs. Roger Kumble, the film’s writer/director, executive produces the series as well.

Pavun Shetty of Original Film also executive produces. Bruce Mellon, the founder of Original Film, is a producer — as are Andrea Iervolino and Monika Bacardi of Iervolino & Bacardi Entertainment.

Watch the trailer here: