Ali
A new TV series take on Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’ classic 18th Century novel “Dangerous Liasons” is in the works at Starz.
The series, hailing from Colin Callender’s Playground Entertainment and Tony Krantz’ Flame Ventures, has snared an eight-part order.
The series, based on a story first published in 1782, will be written and showrun by Harriet Warner (“Tell Me Your Secrets”). It follows the Marquise de Merteuil and the Vicomte de Valmont, two narcissistic rivals and ex-lovers who use seduction to control and exploit others. It explores the world of the French aristocracy shortly before the French revolution.
The series will tell the origin story of the early years of both characters when they meet as passionate young lovers in the slums of 18th century Paris. It will be told from the perspective of Merteuil, informed by her line from the novel, “Born to avenge my sex and conquer yours, I have succeeded in inventing strategies for doing so that before me had never been conceived.”
Callender tells Deadline, who have the scoop, “In Harriet Warner’s brilliantly re-imagined world of Dangerous Liaisons the character of Merteuil is placed center stage as a woman quietly challenging the status quo of sexual politics, holding others to account, particularly for the abuse of sexual power and male privilege. In the wake of the #MeToo movement, a story about the claiming of female power in a world where women are objects of male domination feels strikingly timely and powerfully relevant.”
He added, “Tony Krantz and I are excited to be making this with Starz and Lionsgate who have fully embraced Harriet’s bold vision for this rich period drama which has at its core young people in love in a complex world of promiscuity, ambition, and status anxiety – a world where the gap between rich and poor is greater than ever. This could just as easily be a story of modern day America as 18th Century Paris.”
