Dangerous Liaisons creators Harriet Warner and Colin Callender have opened up about queer representation in the new series and how it improves on its predecessor Cruel Intentions.
The prequel series, which is set before the events of Pierre Choderlos de Laclos' 1782 novel Les Liaisons dangereuses, starring Alice Englert and Nicholas Denton, is set to premiere in the US tonight (November 6).
The novel, which was adapted into a Hollywood movie in 1988, was followed by the 1999 re-imagining Cruel Intentions starring Sarah Michelle Gellar.
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When asked about the dated representation of homosexual relationships in Cruel Intentions (which are weaponised as something that's shameful) and the importance of representing positive LGBTQ relationships in the new series, Warner exclusively told Digital Spy: "It's wonderful. For me, as a queer woman, I think it's kind of inherent in everything that I write. I think it's very hard to tell any story without reaching for that.
"You bring yourself to everything. And it's wonderful. I think there's a fluidity to the show that isn't just about gender and sexuality. It's also about money and class and the movement and transformation of all our characters," she added.
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Speaking about the punishment of homosexuality in Cruel Intentions, Warner said: "I think in terms of that almost punishing of homosexuality – wherever it's played in our show, where there is infidelity, that would be the exploitative action. It's nothing to do with sexuality.
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"But in a weird way, while we're in a society of huge judgement, these characters are kind of really free of judgement of themselves."
When asked if a second season was on the cards, Colin Callender teased: "I am working overtime to persuade Lionsgate and Starz to commit to a second season, and Harriet has fantastic ideas for where the second season would go."
New episodes of Dangerous Liaisons are available to stream every Sunday on STARZ in the US and Lionsgate+ in the UK.
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Reporter, Digital Spy
Harriet is a freelance news writer specialising in TV and movies at Digital Spy.
A horror enthusiast, she joined Digital Spy after working on her own horror website, reviewing films and focusing largely on feminism in the genre.
In her spare time, Harriet paints and produces mixed-media art. She graduated from the University of Kingston with a BA in fine art, where she specialised in painting. She also has an MA in journalism from Birkbeck University.
TV writer, Digital Spy Janet completed her Masters degree in Magazine Journalism in 2013 and has continued to grow professionally within the industry ever since. For six years she honed her analytical reviewing skills at the Good Housekeeping institute eventually becoming Acting Head of Food testing. She also freelanced in the field of film and TV journalism from 2013-2020, when she interviewed A-List stars such as Samuel L Jackson, Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson. In 2021 she joined Digital Spy as TV writer where she gets to delve into more of what she loves, watching copious amounts of telly all in the name of work. Since taking on the role she has conducted red carpet interviews with the cast of Bridgerton, covered the BAFTAs and been interviewed by BBC Radio and London Live. In her spare time she also moonlights as a published author, the book Gothic Angel.
