E.L. James

It’s been a couple of weeks since we heard about Universal’s short list of directors for Fifty Shades Darker, the second film in their Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy. Today, it’s being reported that the studio has formally made an offer to their top pick, House of Cards and Glengarry Glen Ross director James Foley.

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 franchise after not seeing eye-to-eye with Fifty Shades author E.L. James about the direction of the franchise.

Just yesterday it was reported that Fifty Shades trilogy author E.L. James has hired her husband, fellow author Niall Leonard, to write the screenplay for Fifty Shades Darker. Now that a screenwriter has been set for the first sequel (and, if things go well, possibly the next one), Universal is starting to solidify their plans for the remaining films in the franchise. The studio has announced release dates for both sequels, with stars Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson expected to return.

Oh boy. Recently, we learned that Fifty Shades of Grey director Sam Taylor-Johnson and writer Kelly Marcel would not be returning for the sequel, as Universal has given more control to E.L. James, the author of the Fifty Shades trilogy. And with that power, James has decided to hire her husband, fellow author Niall Leonard, who also has some screenwriting credits under his belt.

Things have been going pretty well for Fifty Shades of Grey, the film based on the first novel in E.L. James’ massively successful erotic trilogy. Not only is it the fastest-selling R-rated movie in history, but the film adaptation has been totally dominating the box office. Two sequels have already been announced, and following reports of creative issues on the set, the latest news surrounding the global phenomenon doesn’t seem particularly optimistic: James is reportedly demanding full control over the script for the sequel.

A while ago, we had a hard time believing that a '50 Shades of Grey' movie could actually get made. Then the film adaptation of the extremely popular, semi-pornographic book series got a director, and now it has a release date.

Call us crazy, but we always imagined the author of the 'Twilight' fan fiction-inspired eBook turned actual book, 'Fifty Shades of Grey,' to be written by a real-life Jill from Adam Sandler's Razzie-winning 'Jack and Jill.' Turns out... we were kind of right.

Universal and Focus Features have won rights to adapt E.L. James' 'Fifty Shades of Grey,' the first novel in her erotic trilogy. Described by some as "mommy porn," the series is targeted at women aged 25-65.