How HBO’s ‘The Seduction’ Reinvents ‘Dangerous Liaisons’

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As a film buff, I’m always excited to see fresh takes on classic stories, and the upcoming HBO Max series, The Seduction, definitely has my attention. It’s another adaptation of Les Liaisons dangereuses, a novel that’s been brought to the screen before – I still think Stephen Frears’ 1988 Dangerous Liaisons is the definitive version, though Starz did a TV series in 2022. What’s interesting about The Seduction is that it’s a prequel! It shows us the early life of Marquise Isabelle de Merteuil, played by Anamaria Vartolomei, and how she first started to develop her skills of manipulation and seduction. It’s hitting HBO Max on November 14, 2025, and I’m already looking forward to seeing a different angle on this familiar story.

This six-episode historical romance, with new episodes released every Friday, follows Marquise de Merteuil as she gains power and expertly manipulates the men around her in pre-Revolutionary Paris. It’s worth considering why this classic story, which has been retold in many different ways, continues to captivate audiences, and how it connects to HBO’s The Seduction.

How ‘The Seduction’ Adapts a 243-Year-Old Story

This film, The Seduction, is based on the 1782 novel Les Liaisons dangereuses by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos. It tells the story of Marquise Isabelle de Merteuil (Anamaria Vartolomei), a noblewoman in 18th-century Paris who is heartbroken and seeking revenge. To better understand this film, which is a prequel, it helps to be familiar with the 1988 film adaptation directed by Stephen Frears – a highly regarded version of the classic tale.

The film centers on Isabelle (played by Glenn Close, in an Oscar-nominated role) who, after being rejected by her former lover, the Comte Bastide, embarks on a complex and emotionally charged game of revenge. She enlists the help of the charming but unscrupulous Vicomte de Valmont (John Malkovich), and together they plot to seduce Cécile de Volanges (Uma Thurman), a young woman Bastide is interested in, as part of Isabelle’s elaborate scheme.

Valmont, a man with no moral compass, turns down Isabelle’s advances and instead sets his sights on the virtuous and beautiful Madame de Tourvel. When Tourvel’s mother-in-law warns her about Valmont’s intentions, he shifts his focus to Cécile. However, his plan goes awry when Cécile falls for the charming Chevalier Danceny, creating jealousy and complications for Valmont to deal with.

HBO’s upcoming series, The Seduction, will tell the story before the events of the novel and the 1988 film. It will center on Isabelle’s youth and her experiences growing up in 1700s Paris, exploring the city’s seductive atmosphere through a modern, feminist lens.

Who Stars in ‘The Seduction’?


HBO Max

While The Seduction comes before the story of Dangerous Liaisons, several characters from the HBO series will appear in this new prequel. The show features a young Madame Isabelle de Merteuil, played by French actress Anamaria Vartolomei, known for her role in Mickey 17. Noée Abita (My Summer with Irene) plays Madame de Tourvel, Fantine Harduin (Happy End) is Cécile de Volanges, and Vincent Lacoste (Along Came Love) takes on the role of Valmont. German actress Diane Kruger (Inglourious Basterds) will play Valmont’s aunt, Rosemonde – a character previously played by Mildred Natwick in the 1988 film.

Directed by Jessica Palud (known for Being Maria) and written by Jean-Baptiste Delafon (Of Money and Blood), The Seduction features Lucas Bravo (Emily in Paris) as the cunning Gercourt. The cast also includes Julien De Saint Jean (Love Me Tender), Juliett Thierry-Mieg (Wolfpack), and Patrick d’Assumçao (The Taste of Things). While their specific roles haven’t been revealed, these actors will support the story as Isabelle gains influence and becomes a powerful figure in Paris’s passionate and open-minded high society.

“The Seduction” is the latest in a long line of adaptations based on the original novel. Previous versions include the 1989 film Valmont directed by Milos Forman, the 1999 American update Cruel Intentions (featuring Swoosie Kurtz), the 2022 TV series Dangerous Liaisons, and a planned Cruel Intentions series for 2024 that was ultimately canceled. The story has also been reimagined in South Korea, Colombia, Brazil, and the Czech Republic. This new version, The Seduction, returns the tale to its French roots while modernizing it for today’s audiences.

The Seduction Aims To Update a Timeless Tale for Modern Audiences


HBO Max

Despite being set in the past, the story of The Seduction is intentionally relevant to today’s world. Jessica Palud explained to Variety that it was crucial to present the film as a modern exploration of the #MeToo movement.

The book reveals Isabelle suffered trauma due to Valmont’s exploitation. In our adaptation, ‘The Seduction,’ we portrayed her as more empowered and feminist. And, in a way, the story of Merteuil foreshadows the themes of the #MeToo movement, reflecting similar issues of abuse and power dynamics that were present in 18th-century society.

To distinguish the new HBO Max series from earlier versions, Palud also developed a more complex relationship between Isabelle and Valmont’s aunt, Rosemonde, by adding:

We developed a dynamic between two female characters: one who is growing and finding her voice, and another who represents older, more traditional beliefs about women and their roles. The latter character struggles to believe in progress and remains bound by patriarchal thinking. We envisioned this outsider as someone attractive and youthful, and Diane Kruger seemed like the perfect fit for the role.

The updated story also introduces Gercourt, a pleasure-seeking former lover of Isabelle, who is a significant character in the book but didn’t appear in the film adaptation. Palud explained the decision to cast Lucas Bravo as this womanizing character, saying:

I hadn’t watched ‘Emily in Paris’ before, so I wasn’t familiar with Lucas Bravo at all. When I saw him audition, I immediately recognized his potential. He has a striking, almost villainous look – he reminded me of Captain Hook! The role he plays is quite dark and his character carries a lot of inner turmoil and potential for violence.

While the story introduces new twists and characters, The Seduction is fundamentally built on the timeless theme of passionate desire. Though set in the past, the film uses the classic 18th-century setting to comment on modern views of sex, consent, personal freedom, and power imbalances between men and women, prompting viewers to consider how much progress society has made in the last 250 years. The Seduction begins streaming on HBO Max November 14th.

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2025-11-11 02:06