The Seduction (TV series)
| The Seduction | |
|---|---|
| French | Merteuil |
| Genre | Period drama |
| Created by | Jean-Baptiste Delafon |
| Based on | Les Liaisons dangereuses by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos |
| Directed by | Jessica Palud |
| Starring | |
| Opening theme | "Iron" by Woodkid |
| Composer | Delphine Malausséna |
| Country of origin | France |
| Original language | French |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 6 |
| Production | |
| Producers |
|
| Production locations | |
| Camera setup | Single-camera |
| Running time | 41-47 minutes |
| Production companies | |
| Original release | |
| Network | HBO (HBO Max) |
| Release | 14 November 2025 – present |
The Seduction (know as Merteuil in France) is a French television series created by Jean-Baptiste Delafon, based on Pierre Choderlos de Laclos's epistolary novel Les Liaisons dangereuses. It stars Anamaria Vartolomei, Diane Kruger, Vincent Lacoste, and Lucas Bravo. The series is both a prequel and a loose adaptation of the plot of the novel, and follows Isabelle de Merteuil (Vartolomei) as she is trying to get revenge on the Vicomte de Valmont (Lacoste) after he betrayed her.
The series production was announced by HBO Max in September 2024 with Nabi Productions and Felicita Films serving as producers. Filming took place mainly in Val-d'Oise between September and December 2024. Originally announced as an Max Original, it was rebranded as an HBO Original in October 2025.
The Seduction premiered in France on 14 November 2025 on HBO Max's HBO hub.
Premise
The day after her marriage, Isabelle Dassonville discovers that the ceremony was fake and that her husband was in reality the Vicomte de Valmont who was manipulating her. Condemned to take a vow of silence in a convent, her only way to escape is to follow Valmont's aunt, Madame de Rosemonde, who wants to use her to seduce the Comte de Gercourt in Paris for her own mysterious motives. But when Rosemonde's plan fails, Isabelle decides to marry the Comte de Merteuil in order to become a Marquise and gain power to help her to get revenge on Valmont.
Cast
Main
- Anamaria Vartolomei as Isabelle de Merteuil (née Dassonville)
- Diane Kruger as Madame de Rosemonde
- Vincent Lacoste as the Vicomte de Valmont
- Lucas Bravo as the Comte de Gercourt
Recurring
- Noée Abita as Madame de Tourvel
- Julien de Saint Jean as Louis de Germain
- Fantine Harduin as Cécile de Volanges
- Samuel Kircher as the Chevalier Danceny
- Sandrine Blancke as Madame de Volanges
Episodes
| No. | French title / English title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Isabelle" | Jessica Palud | Jean-Baptiste Delafon, Gaëlle Bellan & Jessica Palud | 14 November 2025 |
| 2 | "L'enfer du Grand Monde" / "The Hell of High Society" | Jessica Palud | Unknown | 21 November 2025 |
| 3 | "La Guerre" / "War" | Jessica Palud | TBA | 28 November 2025 |
| 4 | "Les liaisons dangereuses" / "Dangerous Liaisons" | Jessica Palud | TBA | 5 December 2025 |
| 5 | "La Sainte et la Putain" / "The Saint and the Whore" | Jessica Palud | TBA | 12 December 2025 |
| 6 | "Versailles" | Jessica Palud | TBA | 19 December 2025 |
Production
Development
In September 2024, HBO Max announced that a loose adaptation of Pierre Choderlos de Laclos's Les Liaisons dangereuses that will focus on the origins of Isabelle de Merteuil entered production with Jessica Palud directing, while Clément Birnbaum and Joachim Nahum from UGC's Nabi Productions and Marie Guillaumond from Studio TF1's Felicita Films will serve as producers.[1][2]
The series was originally announced as an HBO Max original series, however, when the trailer was released in October 2025, it was rebranded as an HBO Original, similarly to The Penguin, Dune: Prophecy, and It: Welcome to Derry.[3][4]
Filming
Filming began on 4 September and wrapped on 13 December 2024, and took place in Île-de-France, mainly in Val-d'Oise, while some scenes where filmed in Normandy.[5] Many châteaux were used by the production, including the Château de Villette.[6]
Release
The Seduction premiered on HBO Max's HBO hub in France on 14 November 2025, with subsequent episodes released weekly. In France, the series release was not affected by the rebranding as an HBO Original as the channel is only available as a content hub in the country.[3]
References
- ^ "'Merteuil:' French Max Series Starring Anamaria Vartolomei, Diane Kruger & 'Emily In Paris' Actor Lucas Bravo Starts Production". Deadline Hollywood. 17 September 2024. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
- ^ "Anamaria Vartolomei, Diane Kruger, Lucas Bravo Begin Shoot for French Max Original Series 'Merteuil,' a Reimagining of 'Dangerous Liaisons'". Variety. 17 September 2024. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
- ^ a b "HBO Max's Spicy French-Language Drama 'The Seduction' Gets Trailer". Deadline Hollywood. 16 October 2025. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
- ^ "Max Originals 'The Penguin' & 'Dune: Prophecy' Moving To HBO". Deadline Hollywood. 11 July 2025. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
- ^ "Merteuil, la série adaptée des Liaisons dangereuses arrive cet automne". Vogue France (in French). 17 October 2025. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
- ^ "C'est tourné près de chez vous". Val-d'Oise (in French). 12 December 2024. Retrieved 15 November 2025.