This Queer Clip From the Ill-Fated Cruel Intentions Pilot Is Giving Us Life

It’s hard to explain the enduring appeal of the 1999 camp classic Cruel Intentions to younger folks. A modernized version of Les Liaisons dangereuses, the film launched the careers of Ryan Phillippe, Selma Blair, and Reese Witherspoon. The soapy masterpiece was wildly quotable, and offered up relentless sex appeal to horny teenagers. All we had back in those innocent days was a friend’s stolen copy of Playboy and the Cruel Intentions VHS.

Cruel Intentions is also notable for being one of the first studio films to portray queer teens. The movie featured Eric Mabius as closeted jock Greg, who was having a secret affair with Joshua Jackson’s Blaine. The film also featured an infamous kiss between Selma Blair and Sarah Michelle Gellar. While the kiss was gratuitous and very much for the male gaze, it was many of our first experiences seeing any kind of queer kissing on the big screen. For many queer women and folks, that kiss was something of a light bulb moment. The lip lock went on to win Best Kiss at the MTV Movie Awards.

Cruel Intentions was so popular that it spawned two direct to video sequels, the first of which features a truly bonkers performance by a young Amy Adams. I can’t recommend that you watch the film, but do yourself a favor and check out some of her scenes on YouTube. You won’t regret it.

In 2015, Original Film announced that they were taking the franchise to the small screen. Sarah Michelle Gellar reprised her role as Kathryn Merteuil in the soapy pilot that picked up 15 years after where the film left off. In the series, Gellar’s Kathryn fights for control of Valmont International against Bash Casey, the son of Ryan Phillippe and Reese Witherspoon’s characters.

And while the pilot generated plenty of buzz, it was never picked up, and Cruel Intentions the series was shuffled off to the TV pilot graveyard. It was a disappointing outcome for fans of the film, and for SMG fans especially, who have long waited for the actress to find a suitable TV follow-up to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Seriously, why hasn’t anyone cast SMG in a Big Little Lies-style vehicle? Get it together, Hollywood.

But now, four years later, a clip from the doomed pilot is making the rounds on Twitter:

In the clip, SMG seduces Nathalie Kelley’s character, Carmen, in yet another sapphic hook-up for the now canon bisexual character. Queer Twitter promptly lost their minds.

As someone who loves A) Sarah Michele Gellar B) night-time soap operas and C) pretty ladies kissing, the fact that this series never got made is a tragedy of epic(ally small) proportions. If we’re never going to get the Cruel Intentions series of our dreams, can we at least get SMG cast as a villain in a night-time soap that is worthy of her talents?

I mean, give the people what they want.

(image: Original Film)

Want more stories like this? Become a subscriber and support the site!

—The Mary Sue has a strict comment policy that forbids, but is not limited to, personal insults toward anyone, hate speech, and trolling.—

Have a tip we should know? tips@themarysue.com

Author

Close

Chelsea Steiner

Chelsea was born and raised in New Orleans, which explains her affinity for cheesy grits and Britney Spears. An pop culture journalist since 2012, her work has appeared on Autostraddle, AfterEllen, and more. Her beats include queer popular culture, film, television, republican clownery, and the unwavering belief that 'The Long Kiss Goodnight' is the greatest movie ever made. She currently resides in sunny Los Angeles, with her husband, 2 sons, and one poorly behaved rescue dog. She is a former roller derby girl and a black belt in Judo, so she is not to be trifled with. She loves the word “Jewess” and wishes more people used it to describe her.

twitter