Variety reports that Roger Kumble, creator of the Cruel Intentions TV show adaptation says NBC and Sony are still in talks to bring the show to the air, possibly next summer. NBC ordered the Cruel Intentions pilot, back in February. When the show was not among the series announced during the recent Upfront, word broke that the pilot was still alive at the Peacock Network.
Cruel Intentions is a sequel to 1999 Cruel Intentions feature film, starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, and Reese Witherspoon. Gellar is reprising the role of Kathryn Merteuil in the sequel series. Kate Levering has been cast as Annette Hargrove (Witherspoon’s role). The pilot cast also includes Peter Gallagher, Taylor John Smith, Nathalie Kelley, Coby Bell, Anne Winters, Duane Henry, and Samantha Logan.
Here is more, from Variety:
“The latest I’ve heard is that Sony and NBC are trying to figure this out,” Kumble says. “It feels like a long time, but it hasn’t been that long because they had the upfronts and then it was Memorial Day and everyone in the industry goes on vacation so I think they’re regrouping. What’s been great is that I’m still getting emails of support from NBC and Sony saying, ‘We’re behind this show.’”
Sources say that the network is already toying around with a trailer, targeting a domestic summer launch, in addition to meeting about international marketing plans — a sign that NBC is edging toward a series pickup.
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“I was kind of surprised when the other day I got a call like, ‘Your pilot is online,’” says Kumble says. “Maybe there will be a groundswell of people who have seen this in the past 24 hours, and that might just be what we need to push this thing into series.” He admits he plans to forward the tweets on to Sony and NBC.
Social media buzz can play a role in a network’s decision to move ahead. Case in point: “The Mindy Project,” which Hulu picked up after Fox’s cancellation, partly due to the #savethemindyproject Twitter campaign, and more recently, “Nashville,” which has been trending ever since ABC cancelled the show in May, and is now in contention for pickup at four to five different networks.
If NBC does not end up greenlighting the series, Kumble says Sony will likely shop the show elsewhere.
“Because of the IP and because of the love for the pilot, they’re optimistic about their chances,” Kumble says. “Both Sony and NBC have been so amazing. It’s been the best experience of my career…we’re all on the same page and that it really made it a real joy to develop.”
But, the plan is to get “Cruel Intentions” on NBC.
“I’m holding out hope and a lot of us are,” Kumble adds. “I’m very cautiously optimistic — but I’m not buying a new car.”
What do you think? Do you want to see a Cruel Intentions TV series? Do you think NBC will pick it up?
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