Universal’s search for a director for the Fifty Shades of Grey sequel Fifty Shades Darker is reportedly down to a handful of names, with James Foley at the top of the list. Foley’s career is currently experiencing a revival thanks to his work on Netflix’s House of Cards.
While Deadline cautions that talks haven’t started, the site says that Universal will start talking with Foley first. Rebecca Thomas (Electrick Children, Looking For Alaska), Tanya Wexler (Hysteria) and Mark Pellington (Henry Poole is Here) are the other names still being considered though.
Of those names, it’s safe to say that Foley is the more experienced. He’s been in the business since the 1980s and directed Glengarry Glen Ross in 1992. He recently switched to TV directing, helming episodes of House of Cards, Hannibal and Wayward Pines.
Universal will probably want to get a director signed for both Darker and Fifty Shades Freed to avoid needing to go on another search after Grey director Sam Taylor-Johnson left the franchise. The new film, which the studio said will be “more of a thriller,” will be written by novelist Niall Leonard, who also happens to be married to Fifty Shades writer E.L. James.
Darker will again star Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan and will hit theaters on Feb. 10, 2017. Freed will follow on Feb. 9, 2018, but Universal isn’t completely committed to shooting the two films back-to-back, according to Deadline.
image of Jamie Dornan, Dakota Johnson courtesy of Famous/ACE/INFphoto.com