The Cruel Intentions reboot cast had “strict instructions” to avoid a ’90s cult film

The cast of new TV show Cruel Intentions have spoken openly about following in the iconic film’s footsteps, revealing they were warned not to “copy the original”.

The original film was first released in March 1999. The film was directed by Roger Kumble, who led an all-star cast including Sarah Michelle Gellar, Reese Witherspoon, Ryan Phillippe and Selma Blair.

While it was about a bet between rich high school student Kathryn (Gellar) and her equally perverted stepbrother Sebastian (Phillippe), the updated series revolves around the elite Manchester college that Caroline (Sarah Catherine Hook) and Lucien (Zac Burgess) fights for control of the campus.

After a fatal hazing injury, Caroline uses her stepbrother to seduce the vice president’s daughter, Annie Grover (Savannah Lee Smith), to ensure her time on campus is not compromised.

In an interview with Us Weekly, Burgess explained their efforts, sharing that TV bosses gave them “strict instructions” to avoid reproducing the OG version – which he said was an easy task since he still has it haven’t seen.

“We were given pretty strict instructions: ‘Don’t copy the original.’ And I hadn’t seen the original at that point and I think if I were to watch it I would be subconsciously influenced,” he explained.

“I sit in a somewhat unique position. I haven’t seen the film. So I was a little lucky that it was more of a conscious decision.”

Smith, whose character was based on Witherspoon’s Annette, also hadn’t seen the teen drama before taking the role, sharing that she was “maybe two or three” at the premiere.

“I remember in the breakdown of my audition, our showrunners Sara (Goodman) and Phoebe (Fisher) specifically said, ‘Don’t replicate!’ “Of course I really wanted to see the movie, but I held back because I “I didn’t want to imitate anything,” she remembers.

It wasn’t quite the same experience for Hook, as she had been a fan of the 1999 flick before taking on the role of Caroline, modeled on Gellar’s Kathryn.

“I was really discouraged to do anything that Sarah Michelle Gellar did. “But of course I think her great performance was just floating around in my head and I couldn’t avoid it,” she said, instead naming Glenn Close in “Dangerous Love Affairs” as her inspiration.

“Sarah Michelle Gellar is so good at delivering such snappy lines and her delivery is so breakneck, whereas I think mine had a more relaxed energy. She is rather bored and a quiet observer.

“Caroline is more calm than Sarah Michelle Gellar, and ultimately we tried to find a new, different version.”

Sean Patrick Thomas also couldn’t avoid the film – especially because he was actually in it, but playing a completely different character.

In the film he played music teacher Ronald Clifford, who had a secret romance with Blair’s Cecile Caldwell, while in the series he plays Professor Chadwick, who teaches CeCe Carroway (Sara Silver).

“I feel like the character is a lot smarter and a little less naive,” he added. “It’s not the same character.” “The way this character is written – he has more control over things than his opponent in the film.”

Cruel Intentions was released on Amazon Prime Video today, and fans rushed to see the “updated” version of Roger Kumble’s scandalous effort, which grossed more than $76 million at the global box office.

The official synopsis reads: “Cruel Intentions follows the elite students of Manchester College, a university adjacent to Washington, D.C., where reputation means everything, fraternities are the gold standard, and two ruthless step-siblings, Caroline Merteuil and Lucien Belmont, will do anything to get in To remain at the top of the murderous social hierarchy.

“After a brutal hazing incident threatens the entire Greek Life system, they will do whatever it takes to maintain their power and reputation – even if it means seducing Annie Grover, the daughter of the Vice President of the United States.”

“Hearts are broken, loyalties are tested and secrets are revealed at this modern royal court, Manchester College.”

“Cruel Intentions” is now available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.

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