InCruel Intentions , high-pitched schooltime scholar and step - siblings Sebastian ( Ryan Phillippe ) and Kathryn ( Sarah Michelle Gellar ) stakes on Sebastian ’s power to seduce Annette ( Reese Witherspoon ) , the headmaster ’s girl who penned an article forSeventeenmagazine titled " Why I Plan to Wait , " about why she was choose to save herself for marriage .

The 1999 film has maintained its popularity over the years . Despite a produced prequel series being re - cut into a unmediated - to - video sequel in 2000 , NBC is currently working on aCruel IntentionsTV series , withGellar reprising her roleas Kathryn . Here are some facts about the movie to translate before we wassail to my triumph .

1. THE WRITER/DIRECTOR WAS INSPIRED BYWELCOME TO THE DOLLHOUSE.

Writer / managing director Roger Kumble sawWelcome to the Dollhouse(1995 ) and felt he had never envision anything like it—“so dark , " " fu**ed up high school . " It quickly run him to the thought of doing an update ofDangerous liaison , but typeset in high school day . The twenty-four hours his 1997 playd female child , starring David Schwimmer , fill up , Kumble run short to Mexico and wroteCruel Intentionsin 12 days .

2. IT’S THE FOURTH SCREEN ADAPTATION OFLES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES.

The Pierre Choderlos de Laclos novelwas first published in 1782 . In 1959 , Roger Vadim adjust the film for the filmdom using its original title . In 1988 , Stephen Frears madeDangerous Liaisonswith John Malkovich , Glenn Close , Michelle Pfeiffer , and Uma Thurman , which get ahead three of its seven Oscar nominations . The undermentioned class ,   MilošForman madeValmontwith Colin Firth and Annette Bening .

3. THE DIRECTOR BEGGED REESE WITHERSPOON TO PLAY ANNETTE.

Columbia Pictures   need Katie Holmes to take on Annette ; Kumble did n’t call up she had enough forte of fictional character for the use . Phillippe was already sign on as Sebastian when Kumble inquire about his girl , Reese Witherspoon . “So , basically , we took Reese out to dinner to get her drunk , and we ended up getting drunk,“Kumble uncover in 2014 . " And I literally fuck off down on my knees and begged her : ' Please , it ’ll be 15 solar day , you ’ll be great . ' " Witherspoon agreed .

4. SELMA BLAIR WENT INTO HER AUDITION IN CHARACTER.

For legal cause , Kumble had to require all of the actors auditioning for Cecile how erstwhile they were , because of a graphic sex activity picture between the character and Sebastian in the film . " So we were bringing in all these hoi polloi , " herecalled toCosmopolitan , " and they were all good , but I remember Selma [ Blair ] came in and I said , ' How old are you ? ' And she go away [ in Cecile ’s brattish vocalism ] ' How old are you ? ' And she was so obnoxious and I could n’t get it out of my head . “At 26 twelvemonth old , Blair was the quondam gamey schooler in the movie .

5. THE ORIGINAL TITLE WASCRUEL INVENTIONS.

In February , Gellarposteda photo dating back to the 1998Cruel Intentions ’s " kick off dinner . " In the subtitle , she write that the original claim of the movie was actuallyCruel Inventions .

6. THE PRODUCTION DESIGNER USED MOSTLY DARK COLORS ON PURPOSE.

Jon Gary Steele had it so that all of the locations they were permitted to paint were painted in dark colors . " I see the movie as very much a tragedy,“Steele saidin the film ’s product notes . " Since we were using a youthful cast , I did n’t want it to feel like a young , bright teenager picture , because it ’s not . It ’s very tragic ; everyone essentially misplace . "

7. WITHERSPOON WAS PURPOSELY CLOTHED IN LIGHT COLORS.

" I think of we wanted her in all white in contrast to Ryan ’s all black , and when he gets murder by a railcar and sees her it ’s almost as if she is an angel,“said costume house decorator Denise Wingate .

8. WHEN WITHERSPOON SLAPPED PHILLIPPE, IT WASN’T SCRIPTED.

" At one point I was improvising off - camera for Reese , "   PhillippetoldThe Morning Callin 1999 . " I think I read some pretty miserly things , so she came over and slapped me . Roger bed it so much he comprise it into the setting . So basically I got slapped around for a couple of hours . " Witherspoon and Phillippe got marriedthree monthsafter the release ofCruel Intentionsand had two children together .

9. WITHERSPOON MADE PHILLIPPE VOMIT.

" Reese and I had a fight scene where we had to say horrifying things to each other for four full-strength hr . After it was all over , I went alfresco and literally threw up,“Phillippe take . " It was so emotionally punish for me . "

10. A PORN STAR CAUSED PROBLEMS ON SET.

Wanting to deflect an sticky situation with an actress hold 2nd thoughts about look au naturel in front of the camera , Kumble hired Alisha Klass , whom he view " the biggest star in adult photographic film in the late ' XC , " to play a naked cheerleader in the setting of a scene where Sebastian is on the headphone with Annette . But Klass ' lack of attire created an ill at ease situation anyway . " The women on set have a problem,“Wingate informed Kumble . " Your actor ’s at catering and she ’s tire just a fishing net whatever , body skirt , and is basically swank all of us . " Klass ' fit was finally cut .

“ I remember at the last bit make up one’s mind to put Selma in a red hooded sweatshirt so when she is leave to go see Sebastian she looked like a contemporary Little Red Riding Hood go to see the Big Bad Wolf,“Wingate toldDazed .

12. THE VISIBLE SALIVA IN THE KATHRYN/CECILE KISS WAS A “HAPPY ACCIDENT.”

Gellar and Blair were not mean to produce the iconic saliva , but after someone on set they had to do the tantrum again , cinematographer Theo van de Sandeproclaimedit was " beautiful . "

13. THE SMASHING PUMPKINS SAID NO TO THE MOVIE.

The sex scene was eventually seduce to " Colorblind " by The Counting Crows . Kumble want The Smashing Pumpkins Song dynasty " To Sheila " for it , but singer / guitar player Billy Corganturned them down .

14. THERE WAS A SEQUEL FEATURING AMY ADAMS.

The straight - to - videoCruel Intentions 2was a make over ofManchesterPrep , a prequel series mean for Fox that never made it to television receiver despite three episodes being bring forth . Amy Adams portrayed a young Kathryn . Cruel Intentions 3(2004 ) took place in college with new case , include Kathryn ’s first cousin Cassidy .

Reese Witherspoon stars in ‘Cruel Intentions’ (1999).

Glenn Close, John Malkovich, and Michelle Pfeiffer star in ‘Dangerous Liaisons’ (1988).

Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe at the ‘Cruel Intentions’ (1999) premiere.