E.L. James won’t be writing the script for Fifty Shades of Grey’s sequel, but she will still have a strong link to the screenwriter. Her husband, Niall Leonard, got the job.
There were reports that James wanted much more control over the production of Fifty Shades Darker after clashing with Fifty Shades of Grey writer Kelly Marcel and director Sam Taylor-Johnson. There were even rumors that James was in talks to write the film herself, even though she has no screenwriting credits.
Marcel is not coming back and neither is Taylor-Johnson, who officially left the franchise last month.
While the hunt for a director is still on, producer Michael De Luca confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that Leonard has been hired to write Darker. He wrote the Crusher book series and worked on the British TV shows Air Force One Is Down and Wire in the Blood.
TheWrap also confirmed the hiring.
Stars Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan are signed for all three Fifty Shades movies, but they are reportedly negotiating for a hefty pay raise for Darker. James’ third novel is Fifty Shades Freed.
Universal still hasn’t set a release date for Darker, which is a good idea since there’s still no director.
image of Jamie Dornan & Dakota Johnson courtesy of Nancy Rivera/ACE/INFphoto.com