Dornan and Johnson each signed a three-picture deal, but THR reported that they were seeking more money for the sequel. After watching Fifty Shades Darker, I was super-confused cause it was better than Fifty Shades of Grey in somethings, and worse than it in somethings. While Universal and its specialty division Focus Features secured the film rights to James’ best-selling trilogy in 2012, there wasn’t much news on the sequel until more than two months after Grey hit theaters, with Leonard and Foley signing on and Universal dating Darker and Freed. With a production budget of $40 million, Fifty Shades of Grey made more than $571 million at the global box office, making it one of the most profitable films of 2015. Darker and Freed are being filmed back-to-back. 10, 2017, with Fifty Shades Freed slated to hit theaters Feb. Universal Pictures is set to release the pic Feb. Like Grey, Darker also is set in the Pacific Northwest, with filming taking place in Vancouver and Paris.įilming on Darker began in early 2016. A teaser for the sequel, which was included on the Blu-ray version of Fifty Shades of Grey, featured Dornan’s Christian donning a masquerade mask. Indeed, reports indicate that Anastasia is threatened by both Heathcote’s Leila, one of Christian’s exes, and Johnson’s Jack Hyde. Still, Universal chairman Donna Langley called the follow-up “more of a thriller” than the first film. Although the couple called it quits at the end of Grey, paparazzi photos that have surfaced of Dornan and Johnson filming the sequel suggest that the two could reconcile. In Darker, Anastasia starts a new job as she’s faced with dealing with many of Christian’s former flames.
The big-screen adaptation of the second novel in EL James’ erotic book series is a follow-up to Fifty Shades of Grey. 'Fifty Shades of Grey' Tops Razzie Awards John Flynn, a psychiatrist Christian begins seeing after the reappearance of Elena, his older former lover, who initiated him into the BDSM world Robinson,” who introduced him to the world of S&MĮric Johnson: plays Jack Hyde, Anastasia’s bossīella Heathcote: plays Leila, one of Christian’s former lovers Kim Basinger: plays Elena Lincoln, Christian’s business partner and older former lover, whom Anastasia has nicknamed “Mrs. Victor Rasuk: plays Jose Rodriguez, Anastasia’s college friend
Max Martini: plays Taylor, Christian’s bodyguard Rita Ora: plays Mia Grey, Christian’s sister Luke Grimes: plays Elliot Grey, Christian’s brother Jamie Dornan: plays billionaire Christian GreyĮloise Mumford: plays Anastasia’s friend Kate 'Fifty Shades Darker' Adds Hugh Dancy (Exclusive)
Foley, who has helmed several episodes of Netflix’s House of Cards, working with Brunetti, also directed the 1992 film version of Glengarry Glen Ross, Fear (the 1996 thriller starring Mark Wahlberg and Reese Witherspoon) and 2007’s Perfect Stranger, starring Halle Berry and Bruce Willis. James Foley is set to direct both Darker and Fifty Shades Freed, the film adaptation of the third book in James’ trilogy.
Leonard, who did uncredited work on the Fifty Shades of Grey script, has written for British TV shows Air Force One Is Down and Wire in the Blood and is the author of the Crusher book series. Instead, James’ husband, author and screenwriter Niall Leonard, will adapt Darker for the big screen. While Kelly Marcel penned the first screen adaptation, James' husband Niall Leonard has been hired to write the screenplay for the sequel.While author James, Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti are all returning as producers, neither the director nor the screenwriter from the first film are back for the second installment after Fifty Shades of Grey helmer Sam Taylor-Johnson clashed with James about many aspects of the big-screen adaptation, including the ending. She said: "For the record, the movie we ended up making is exactly the movie I wanted to make and that the studio wanted to make and that our director wanted to make." Langley also addressed rumours of creative tension between trilogy's author EL James and director Sam Taylor-Johnson, who won't be returning for the next installment. Speaking at The Hollywood Reporter's annual Power Lawyers breakfast she said Darker will be "more of a thriller" than the first installment.įifty Shades Of Grey, which hit cinemas over Valentine's weekend in February, was erotically charged and suspenseful, centering on Anastasia being introduced to Christian's penchant for BDSM in the bedroom.
While fans will have to wait until February 2017 for the second film in the trilogy, Universal Pictures chairman Donna Langley revealed a little more about the direction the film will take.