‘Dangerous Liaisons’, starring Alice Englert, now filming in the Czech Republic

Dangerous Liaisons, a new TV series produced by Starz and Lionsgate, has been in pre-production in the Czech Republic for a few weeks now, but casting for the project has only recently been revealed.

Alice Englert, who starred in the lead role of the young adult adaptation Beautiful Creatures and more recently appeared in supporting roles on Netflix’s Ratched and The Serpent, has been cast as Camille opposite Nicholas Denton (Pillars, Glitch) as Pascal, two scheming young lovers in 18th century Paris.

The two characters will eventually become the Marquise de Merteuil and Vicomte de Valmont, the protagonists of Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’ classic novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses. The new TV series has been called a “bold reimagining” of the classic story, as well as something of a prequel to the original novel.

Dangerous Liaisons has been filmed numerous times before, most notably in a 1988 version of the same name that starred Glenn Close as Merteuil and John Malkovich as Valmont. The following year, Czech director Miloš Forman made the underrated Valmont, with Colin Firth in the lead opposite Annette Bening as Merteuil. In 1999, Ryan Phillippe and Sarah Michelle Gellar played modern versions of the characters in Cruel Intentions.

Pre-production for Dangerous Liaisons has been taking place in Prague and the surrounding Central Bohemian region since April, with primary filming just getting started this week. The production was initially slated to begin in 2020, but filming was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Dangerous Liaisons will be filmed entirely on locations in the Czech Republic. Production on the series is slated to run through October.

Casting for additional roles, including those played by Keanu Reeves and Michelle Pfeiffer in the 1988 movie, have yet to be revealed.

But just a few weeks ago, Kate Winslet revealed that her daughter Mia Threapleton was “away just now in the Czech Republic about to start work on a TV series over there.” That TV show might be Dangerous Liaisons; Carnival Row and Wheel of Time, which have also recently resumed filming in the Czech Republic, are other possibilities.

Here’s guessing Threapleton might play Cécile Volanges, a young girl preyed upon by Merteuil and Valmont, in the new adaptation of Dangerous Liaisons. Cécile was memorably played by Uma Thurman in the 1988 film.

Lead actress Englert, by the by, happens to be the daughter of Jane Campion, who previously directed Winslet in 1999’s Holy Smoke!.

Leonora Lonsdale (Amazon’s The Pale Horse) will direct the first four episodes of Dangerous Liaisons for Lionsgate and Starz. Harriet Warner (Tell Me Your Secrets, Call the Midwife) created and wrote the new series, and serves as executive producer. Coline Abert (Les Revenants), James Dormer (Medici), and Rita Kalnejais (Babyteeth) also serve as writers on the series.

Colin Callender (Howards End), Tony Krantz (24), Bethan Jones (Les Misérables), Scott Huff (The Missing) and Christopher Hampton (Atonement) also serve as executive producers.

Dangerous Liaisons will air on the TV Channel Starz in the United States and Canada and the streaming service Starzplay in other international territories. An expected release date has yet to be announced.

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Jason Pirodsky

Jason Pirodsky has been writing about the Prague film scene and reviewing films in print and online media since 2005. A member of the Online Film Critics Society, you can also catch his musings on life in Prague at expats.cz and tips on mindfulness sourced from ancient principles at MaArtial.com.

2 Responses

  1. Watched them filming this in Mala Strana a few years back. is this available to watch anywhere from CZ?

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