Fifty Shades Darker filming has officially kicked off today as Fifty Shades of Grey series author E L James took to Instagram to share an image of the production’s inaugural film slate. Check out the full image below!
An erotically charged romance, the Fifty Shades of Grey franchise has capitalized on it’s naughty-but-not-too-naughty aesthetic to the tune of more than $570 million worldwide. On-set conflict between author E L James and the first film’s director Sam Taylor-Johnson, however, led to Taylor-Johnson and screenwriter Kelly Marcel opting not return for the sequel. James Foley will instead direct Fifty Shades Darker, which will be penned by E L James’ husband, Niall Leonard.
Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson are set to return as Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele in both Fifty Shades Darker and the third film, Fifty Shades Freed. Expanding upon the events set in motion in Fifty Shades of Grey, the films will again aim to become the motion-picture events for Valentine’s Day 2017 and 2018. Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti, alongside E L James, also return to produce.
“Daunted by the singular tastes and dark secrets of the beautiful, tormented young entrepreneur Christian Grey, Anastasia Steele has broken off their relationship to start a new career with a Seattle publishing house,” reads the official description for the Fifty Shades Darker novel. “But desire for Christian still dominates her every waking thought, and when he proposes a new arrangement, Anastasia cannot resist. They rekindle their searing sensual affair, and Anastasia learns more about the harrowing past of her damaged, driven and demanding Fifty Shades. While Christian wrestles with his inner demons, Anastasia must confront the anger and envy of the women who came before her, and make the most important decision of her life.”
Newcomers to the Fifty Shades of Grey franchise include Eric Johnson, Bella Heathcote, Arielle Kebbel and Kim Basinger. Fifty Shades Darker filming is planned to overlap with production on Fifty Shades Freed.
