The power plays come to an early end as Prime Video cancels their television adaptation of 1999 teen dramaCruel Intentionsafter one season.The series took audiences to the halls of Manchester College in Washington, D.C.as a pair of step-siblings set out to secure their place among the elite, and to charm the school’s vice president’s daughter in their twisted game. Released in November 2024,Cruel Intentions' caststarred Sarah Catherine Hook, Zac Burgess, and Savannah Lee Smith as Caroline, Lucien, and Annie, while original movie star Sean Patrick Thomas played a new role.
As reported byVariety, Prime Video has confirmed thatCruel Intentionshas been canceled following the release of its debut season. While no official reason has been given, low viewership and low ratings may have sealed its fate. The series had not managed to find its audience, failing to enter the Nielsen Top 10 streaming charts. The show also reviewed poorly with most critics, netting an accumulated review score of 24% onRotten Tomatoesas the consensus deemed it a surface-level drama with little depth.
What Cruel Intentions' Cancelation Means For The Series' Ending
There Was A Framework For Future Seasons
With the series confirmed to not return,Cruel Intentionsseason 1’s endingleaves several dangling plot threads that will likely go unanswered. Season 1 centered on a power play to ensure Manchester College retains the Greek fraternity system in the face of growing criticism and protest that involves blackmailing Annie into joining Delta Phi.While her plan fell apart, Caroline did ultimately get what she wanted, and managed to claim both Annie and CeCe (Sara Silva), as both girls began to plot against her.
10 Biggest Differences Between Prime Video’s Cruel Intentions Show & The 1999 Movie
Prime Video’s Cruel Intentions TV show borrowed the premise of the 1999 movie of the same name, but it also made some big changes to it.
However, no further details were given by showrunners and executive producers Phoebe Fisher and Sara Goodman beyond an outline of what future seasons of thePrime Video showcould cover. There were intentions by both showrunners to follow the characters throughout their education up until their potential graduation, including dividing the school years into multiple potential seasons. However, with Prime Video’s cancelation,audiences will never know who will come out on top between Caroline, Annie, and Lucien.
Our Thoughts On Cruel Intentions' Cancelation
The Series Struggled To Make It To Screens
It can be argued thatCruel Intentionsfaced an uphill battle even before it was released. It was initially envisioned as a series for Freevee before being brought under Prime Video’s banner after other takes on the concept failed to make progress. With the series having gone through so many hands, it is clear that there was great difficulty in reimagining the 90s' classic for a new era, meaning that it is likely that there won’t be any new attempts anytime soon.
