Universal Studios and Focus Features finally started production on the Fifty Shades of Grey film adaptation this weekend. Production had been delayed after the producers cast Jamie Dornan as Christian Grey and the film is not not scheduled for release until Valentine’s Day 2015.
Author E.L. James, who wrote the books, confirmed on Instagram that the first shooting day was Sunday. The picture is a close-up of the clapboard, complete with director Sam Taylor-Johnson’s name. It also reveals that the cinematographer is Seamus McGarvey, who has been nominated for two Oscars and just completed work on the Godzilla reboot.
Fifty Shades has been in the news in recent months as the cast takes shape. Now that Dornan is onboard after Sons of Anarchy star Charlie Hunnam left, supporting players like Eloise Mumford and Max Martini have joined the cast.
The production was recently featured on the cover of Entertainment Weekly, which confirmed that the film will now not be released until Valentine’s Day 2015. It was first slated to be released on Aug. 1, 2014.
Dakota Johnson, who is playing Anastasia Steele, told EW that she really understands the role.
“I think it's an incredible love story, and that's why it's affected so many people,” Johnson said. “Erica [author E.L. James] did a really good job of explaining how that just can happen sometimes and you have this chemical pull to someone. Adding in the sex makes it perfect. Sometimes you feel a little bit naughty, and that's okay.”
image: Amazon