NBC just wants to kill all of our nostalgia for the late 90’s. They have decided to pass on bringing Cruel Intentions to series after lengthy negotiations.
The sequel to the cult favorite was picked up to pilot in May at NBC, being put into contention for the current 2016-2017 season, though the network opted not to order the show at the time of upfronts when the bulk of broadcast series pickups came through. However, NBC kept the project alive and on deck for consideration, extending the pilot options for the entire cast this summer.
Since the pilot was picked up, the lengthy back-and-forth negotiations over Cruel Intentions have included discussions over stacking rights and ownership, as the show comes from an outside studio, Sony Pictures Television. Over the course of the negotiations, sources said NBC was also concerned the younger-skewing soapy drama would not gel well with their other series, many of which are high-action dramas.
Sources say the decision not to move forward also came down to not finding the right fit on NBC’s schedule. Insiders explain that the network liked the project, but has too many mid-season shows still to come on their slate. While the project was in limbo, NBC was considering many different scenarios to move the show forward, including airing the series in summer 2017. Though nothing has been scheduled at this point, NBC has picked up an overwhelming amount of unscripted series which seem to be a safe bet for the upcoming summer season, as NBC thrived this past summer with an alternative slate, coming out on top among all the broadcast networks.
Though Cruel Intentions is dead at NBC, insiders say that Sony is currently shopping around the show, and multiple networks have inquired about the series.
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