The two Fifty Shades of Grey sequels will shoot back-to-back in 2016 with James Foley directing both, reports TheWrap. Foley, who is famous for such films as Glengarry Glen Ross and the Halle Berry thriller Perfect Stranger, was previously said to be the frontrunner for the job to direct the second film, Fifty Shades Darker, but now it’s confirmed he’ll take on the third film, Fifty Shades Freed, as well.
The erotically-charged romance Fifty Shades of Grey capitalized on it’s naughty-but-not-too-naughty aesthetic to the tune of more than $570 million worldwide, although on-set conflict between author E L James and director Sam Taylor-Johnson led to the latter and screenwriter Kelly Marcel opting not return for the sequel, which will be penned by James’ husband Niall Leonard.
Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson return as Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele in Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed, the second and third chapters based on the worldwide bestselling “Fifty Shades” phenomenon. Expanding upon the events set in motion in Fifty Shades of Grey, the films will again become the motion-picture events for Valentine’s Day 2017 and 2018.
Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti, alongside E L James, the creator of the series, also return to produce. Foley has helmed episodes of Netflix’s hit “House of Cards,” which Brunetti also produces.
