It was announced last night (23rd April) at CinemaCon in Las Vegas that due to the phenomenal success of Fifty Shades Of Grey the following two books will be produced by Universal into two stand-alone films: Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed.
The announcement of the sequels comes at no surprised due to the insane success the first film received on it’s Valentine’s Day opening this year. American box offices estimated that it earned $81.7 million from 3,646 theatres in its first three days.
The sequels will follow the same Valentine’s Day release with Fifty Shades Darker being released on 10th February 2017 and Fifty Shades Freed released on 9th February 2018.
However, director Sam Taylor-Johnson will not be returning to direct the sequel as it is no secret that author of the Twilight fan-fiction trilogy E.L. James was incredibly hands on in the filming process and clashed with Taylor-Johnson over small details which differed from James’ original writing.
Also not returning is the original screenwriters, and instead James has hired her screenwriter husband Niall Leonard who has previously worked on Wire In The Blood and Wild At Heart. He also worked on the original script for Fifty Shades of Grey but was uncredited.
Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan are thought to be reprising there roles as the lead lovers Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey. It is also speculated that Rita Ora will return as Christian’s adoptive sister, Mia in the sequels in which she will play a much larger role.
Fifty Shades Of Grey is available to buy on 22nd June 2015.
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This makes me sad…