It’s official. Sarah Michelle Gellar has signed on to reprise her role as Kathryn Merteuil in NBC’s revival of “Cruel Intentions.” The actress posted the news Wednesday night on her Instagram. Should the pilot get picked up, Gellar will be a series regular — in fact, she’s first on the call sheet.
NBC’s “Cruel Intentions” series kicks off 15 years after the film ended, centering around Gellar’s all-grown-up Kathryn, as she vies for control of Valmont International, as well as the soul of Bash Casey (newcomer Taylor John Smith), the son of the late Sebastian Valmont (the character that was played by Ryan Phillippe in the ’90s film) and Annette Hargrove (the character played by Reese Witherspoon). Upon discovering his late father’s legacy in a hidden journal, Bash is introduced to a world of sex, money, power and corruption he never could have imagined.
For the modern-day revival, Kathryn’s character is described as a “smart, sexy, cruel, charismatic, powerful” master manipulator. The woman behind the scandal involving Bash’s mother, Annette, Kathryn is now married to the wealthy Pascal Barrett and spearheads an inspiring youth rehabilitation movement, as well as being involved in a local private school. She is privately shaken by the arrival of Sebastian’s son, Bash, and the re-appearance in her life of the girl she wronged years ago, Annette.
Roger Kumble, the original writer and director of “Cruel Intentions,” will direct the pilot, which was likely appealing to Gellar, knowing she’ll be in good hands, reuniting with the film’s original visionary. Her Instagram post tonight included a photo of her with Kumble and exec producer Neal Moritz from the original production juxtaposed to one in present day, gearing up for the new NBC production. “I am happy to say that I will be joining them,” she wrote.
