Cruel IntentionsSeries Merges 1999 Film's Salacious Step-Sibling Love Triangle with Modern-Day Greek Life: See the Trailer

Mar. 15, 2025

Cruel Intentionsis back — and this time, truly nothing is off-limits.The upcoming Prime Video series introduces a new step-sibling duo, Caroline (Sarah Catherine Hook) and Lucien (Zac Burgess), whose kingdom is the elite Manchester College. Their target is none other than the Vice President of the United States' daughter, Annie Grover (Savannah Lee Smith).For Caroline, everything is “about getting what we want,” and as she knows, “I always get what I want.“After a deadly hazing injury left Greek life at risk on campus, Caroline sets her sights on Annie, who she says “is the key.““You know what they’re not gonna do? Kick the Vice President’s daughter’s sorority off campus,” she says in the trailer.Caroline, of course, enlists the help of her step-brother Lucien in gaining access to Annie.“I need you to convince her in the way only you can,” she tells him in the trailer.When he asks, “What’s in it for me?” the real truth comes out.“What you’ve always wanted,” Caroline teases. “Me.“Sara Silva as Cece Carroway, Sarah Catherine Hook as Caroline Merteuil and Zac Burgess as Lucien Belmont in ‘Cruel Intentions’.Courtesy of AmazonAnnie is wary of Lucien, though, as Beatrice (Brooke Lena Johnson) warns her, “The Greeks think they own this campus — and some of them are worse than others.“She chastises him for having “quite the reputation” on campus for his nighttime activities, but he knows she hasn’t “completely closed the door on me yet” — and boy, does it look like that door is open more than just a crack.Zac Burgess as Lucien Belmont and Savannah Lee Smith as Annie Grover in ‘Cruel Intentions’.Courtesy of AmazonAs expected, Lucien seems to be falling for Annie, despite the opposition that is sure to come from his step-sister.“There are lines that we don’t cross,” he tells Caroline.“There are no lines between us, dear brother,” Caroline replies. “That’s what makes it so fun.“Sarah Catherine Hook as Caroline Merteuil and Sara Silva as Cece Carroway in ‘Cruel Intentions’.Courtesy of AmazonAnd it wouldn’t beCruel Intentionswithout some other salacious relationships. Caroline’s right-hand Cece (Sara Silva) seems to be involved in an NSFW relationship with a professor, Hank Chadwick (Sean Patrick Thomas),“I’m a professor, we need to keep things professional,” he warns his eager student in the trailer.Per the official description, the eight-episode series “follows the elite students of Manchester College, a Washington, D.C.-adjacent university, where reputation means everything, fraternities and sororities are the gold standard, and two ruthless stepsiblings, Caroline Merteuil and Lucien Belmont, will do anything to stay on top of the cutthroat social hierarchy.“Caroline and Lucien will “do whatever is necessary to preserve their power and reputation – even if that means seducing Annie Grover, the daughter of the Vice President of the United States.“John Harlan Kim as Blaise Powell and Brooke Lena Johnson as Beatrice Worth in ‘Cruel Intentions’.Courtesy of AmazonThe series has been in the pipeline for quite some time, havingfirst surfaced with NBC in 2016withSarah Michelle Gellarattached to reprise her role. However, the sequel series was scrapped — and Gellar agreed with that decision.She told theNew York Timesthat aCruel Intentionsseries should be “straight streaming” rather than a “network show.““If it is a network show, it’s not myCruel Intentions.So, I was actually grateful.“In 2023,Amazon ordered an eight-episode series, whichPrime Video later picked up. The show’s executive producers, Sara Goodman and Phoebe Fisher, said in a statement that they’d “make this next iteration as fun, irreverent and boundary-pushing as the original.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Cruel Intentionspremieres Nov. 21 on Prime Video.

Cruel Intentionsis back — and this time, truly nothing is off-limits.

The upcoming Prime Video series introduces a new step-sibling duo, Caroline (Sarah Catherine Hook) and Lucien (Zac Burgess), whose kingdom is the elite Manchester College. Their target is none other than the Vice President of the United States' daughter, Annie Grover (Savannah Lee Smith).

For Caroline, everything is “about getting what we want,” and as she knows, “I always get what I want.”

After a deadly hazing injury left Greek life at risk on campus, Caroline sets her sights on Annie, who she says “is the key.”

“You know what they’re not gonna do? Kick the Vice President’s daughter’s sorority off campus,” she says in the trailer.

Caroline, of course, enlists the help of her step-brother Lucien in gaining access to Annie.

“I need you to convince her in the way only you can,” she tells him in the trailer.

When he asks, “What’s in it for me?” the real truth comes out.

“What you’ve always wanted,” Caroline teases. “Me.”

Sara Silva as Cece Carroway, Sarah Catherine Hook as Caroline Merteuil and Zac Burgess as Lucien Belmont in ‘Cruel Intentions’.Courtesy of Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

Annie is wary of Lucien, though, as Beatrice (Brooke Lena Johnson) warns her, “The Greeks think they own this campus — and some of them are worse than others.”

She chastises him for having “quite the reputation” on campus for his nighttime activities, but he knows she hasn’t “completely closed the door on me yet” — and boy, does it look like that door is open more than just a crack.

Zac Burgess as Lucien Belmont and Savannah Lee Smith as Annie Grover in ‘Cruel Intentions’.Courtesy of Amazon

As expected, Lucien seems to be falling for Annie, despite the opposition that is sure to come from his step-sister.

“There are lines that we don’t cross,” he tells Caroline.

“There are no lines between us, dear brother,” Caroline replies. “That’s what makes it so fun.”

Sarah Catherine Hook as Caroline Merteuil and Sara Silva as Cece Carroway in ‘Cruel Intentions’.Courtesy of Amazon

And it wouldn’t beCruel Intentionswithout some other salacious relationships. Caroline’s right-hand Cece (Sara Silva) seems to be involved in an NSFW relationship with a professor, Hank Chadwick (Sean Patrick Thomas),

“I’m a professor, we need to keep things professional,” he warns his eager student in the trailer.

Per the official description, the eight-episode series “follows the elite students of Manchester College, a Washington, D.C.-adjacent university, where reputation means everything, fraternities and sororities are the gold standard, and two ruthless stepsiblings, Caroline Merteuil and Lucien Belmont, will do anything to stay on top of the cutthroat social hierarchy.”

Caroline and Lucien will “do whatever is necessary to preserve their power and reputation – even if that means seducing Annie Grover, the daughter of the Vice President of the United States.”

John Harlan Kim as Blaise Powell and Brooke Lena Johnson as Beatrice Worth in ‘Cruel Intentions’.Courtesy of Amazon

The series has been in the pipeline for quite some time, havingfirst surfaced with NBC in 2016withSarah Michelle Gellarattached to reprise her role. However, the sequel series was scrapped — and Gellar agreed with that decision.

She told theNew York Timesthat aCruel Intentionsseries should be “straight streaming” rather than a “network show.”

“If it is a network show, it’s not myCruel Intentions.So, I was actually grateful.”

In 2023,Amazon ordered an eight-episode series, whichPrime Video later picked up. The show’s executive producers, Sara Goodman and Phoebe Fisher, said in a statement that they’d “make this next iteration as fun, irreverent and boundary-pushing as the original.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Cruel Intentionspremieres Nov. 21 on Prime Video.

source: people.com