STARZ Renews ‘Dangerous Liaisons’ for a Second Season

Written by John Edward Betancourt

For the most part in the television world, season renewals happen during the middle of a season, or after said season comes to a close. Simply because the network wants to really look at data and fan response before saying yes to more episodes, so they know they are making the right investment. But there was mention that this isn’t always the case. After all, sometimes just renewing a hit series is a no-brainer for a network and they waste little time in giving it the greenlight shortly after a new season has aired. But every once in a while… something quite unique happens with renewals… something that clues us into the fact that the network is about to air something quite special. 
 
Specifically, the pre series premiere renewal. Where the network simply asks for more before a single episode has aired and before any major fan feedback has arrived and when this happens, it is inherently obvious that the network is blown away and knows the fans will crave that show through and through and well, this is of note today… because it happened earlier today. For earlier, STARZ let it be known, well ahead of its November 6 premiere, that its upcoming series Dangerous Liaisons will be receiving a second season and well… that definitely leaves all of us eager for that premiere. So, we can see what wonders have been created for us. But before we partake on Sunday night, here are all the details on this momentous announcement, courtesy of STARZ.
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‘Ahead of its November 6 series premiere, STARZ has greenlit a second season of “Dangerous Liaisons.” Season two of the seductive drama series, featuring the iconic literary lovers the Marquise de Merteuil (played by Alice Englert) and the Vicomte de Valmont (played by Nicholas Denton), is expected to begin production at the top of 2023 in Prague, Czech Republic.
 
“‘Dangerous Liaisons’ is addictive, provocative and beautifully rendered,” said Kathryn Busby, President, Original Programming at STARZ. “This prelude to the famed 18th century novel illuminates pre-revolution Paris at its most decadent. We are confident that by the end of season one viewers will be craving more scheming and seduction.” 
 
“We’re greatly appreciative to STARZ and Lionsgate for their ongoing support of the show. We’re very excited to share Harriet Warner’s brilliant vision for season two, which will see our world expand and the relationships between our characters deepen in thrilling, dangerous new ways,” said executive producer Colin Callender.
 
STARZ previously announced that season one of “Dangerous Liaisons” is set to premiere Sunday, November 6 at midnight on the STARZ app, all STARZ streaming, and on-demand platforms and internationally on the LIONSGATE+ premium streaming platform across Europe, Latin America and Japan. On linear, it will debut on STARZ at 8:00 PM ET/PT in the U.S. and Canada. 
 
“Dangerous Liaisons” is a bold prelude of Laclos’ classic 18th century novel focusing on the origin story of how his iconic characters, the Marquise de Merteuil and the Vicomte de Valmont, met as passionate young lovers in Paris on the eve of the revolution. This modern take on a classic story takes audiences through wonder and terror, beauty and degradation, seduction and deception in pre-revolutionary Paris. Driven to right the wrongs of their past, the young couple’s survival depends on their skills of seduction and manipulation of not only the French nobility but of each other. Alice Englert and Nicholas Denton portray the notorious lovers: Camille who is taken in by the current Marquise de Merteuil (played by Lesley Manville) navigates her own path in a world of men, using the power of secrets to take back control, and Valmont who will stop at nothing to regain his title that was recently taken from him. Their on-again off-again love story is the heart of the series. It’s not love… it’s war.
 
The series is produced for STARZ by Playground and Flame Ventures in association with Lionsgate Television. It was created and written by Harriet Warner, who also serves as showrunner and executive producer. In addition to Warner, Colin Callender (Playground), Tony Krantz (Flame Ventures), Scott Huff, and Christopher Hampton will continue to serve as executive producers on season two. Liz Gill has been added as Producer and Olly Blackburn will return to direct in season two. In addition to Englert, Denton, and Manville, the series stars Kosar Ali as Victoire, Carice van Houten as Jacqueline de Montrachet, Hilton Pelser as Gabriel Carrè, Fisayo Akinade as Chevalier de Saint-Jacques, Michael McElhatton as Jean de Merteuil, Nathanael Saleh as Azolan, Colette Dalal Tchantcho as Ondine de Valmont, Hakeem Kae-Kazim as Majordome, Tom Wlaschiha as Henri de Montrachet, and Paloma Faith as Florence de Regnier.
 
About STARZ
STARZ (www.starz.com), a Lionsgate company, is a leading global media streaming platform committed to delivering premium content that amplifies narratives by, about and for women and underrepresented audiences. STARZ is home to the highly rated and first-of-its-kind STARZ app that offers the ability to stream or download STARZ premium content, as well as the flagship domestic STARZ® service, including STARZ ENCORE, 17 premium pay TV channels, and the associated on-demand and online services. In 2018, STARZ launched its international premium streaming platform STARZPLAY, now LIONSGATE+, to provide subscribers access to bold, curated storytelling. LIONSGATE+, coupled with the STARZPLAY ARABIA joint venture in MENA and Lionsgate Play in South and Southeast Asia, has a footprint that extends across the globe. STARZ and LIONSGATE+ are available across digital OTT platforms and multichannel video distributors, including cable operators, satellite television providers, and telecommunications companies around the world. In February 2021, STARZ launched #TakeTheLead, a multi-faceted and innovative inclusion initiative expanding its existing efforts to improve representation on screen, behind the camera and throughout the company. 
 
About Playground
Playground is a New York and London-based television, film and theatre production company founded in 2012 by Emmy award- winning producer Colin Callender. Playground has produced over 100 hours of primetime television drama garnering 16 Emmy nominations, 26 BAFTA nominations, and 12 Golden Globe nominations, including winning a BAFTA and a Golden Globe for Best Miniseries. Recent productions include the Golden Globe and BAFTA winning Wolf Hall for BBC and Masterpiece on PBS, The White Princess for Starz, Howards End for BBC and Starz,King Lear with Anthony Hopkins for BBC and Amazon, The Spanish Princess for Starz, three seasons of the critically acclaimed All Creatures Great and Small for Channel 5 and Masterpiece on PBS, The Undeclared War with Simon Pegg and Mark Rylance for Channel 4 and Peacock and Dangerous Liaisons for Starz and Lionsgate.
 
About Lionsgate 
Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B) encompasses world-class motion picture and television studio operations aligned with the STARZ premium global subscription platform to bring a unique and varied portfolio of entertainment to consumers around the world.  The Company’s film, television, subscription and location-based entertainment businesses are backed by a 17,000-title library and a valuable collection of iconic film and television franchises. A digital age company driven by its entrepreneurial culture and commitment to innovation, the Lionsgate brand is synonymous with bold, original, relatable entertainment for audiences worldwide.’ 

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