Finalists Emerge for ‘Fifty Shades Darker’ Director

Fifty Shades of Grey has nearly $570 million in worldwide ticket sales, an enormous amount of anticipation for its two sequels, and an impressive collection of designer ties, whips, and riding crops. What it doesn’t have is a director for the next Fifty Shades film, Fifty Shades Darker, which is supposed to open in theaters in a year and a half, but is still searching for a filmmaker to replace Sam Taylor-Johnson. She left the series after not seeing eye-to-eye with Fifty Shades author E.L. James about the direction of the franchise.

Variety reports that while “no offer has been delivered,” there is a frontrunner for the position: James Foley, who directed the beloved film adaptation of Glengarry Glen Ross, and is best known recently for his work on the Netflix series House of Cards. (Both House of Cards and Fifty Shades are produced by Dana Brunetti, which might have given Foley the inside track.) The Hollywood Reporter says Foley is one of three finalists for the job, along with Arlington Road’s Mark Pellington and Hysteria’s Tanya Wexler.

Although Taylor-Johnson will not return for Darker, her cast will; Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan are both already attached to reprise their roles as Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey. The script for the sequel is written by Niall Leonard (who just so happens to be E.L. James’ husband). The film will follow the couple has they have sex. I guess they’ll talk some too, maybe. But mostly it’s about the boning. Barring a major setback during this director search, Fifty Shades Darker will open in theaters on February 10, 2017.