Universal is finally prepared to start production on the Fifty Shades of Grey sequels and, in news that shouldn’t surprise anyone, the films will be shot back-to-back.
TheWrap confirmed the news today. Showbiz411 also reported it back in August. TheWrap also confirmed that James Foley (Glengarry Glen Ross, House of Cards episodes) will direct both films.
Studios often shoot films back-to-back to save money and time, as well as make sure that casts and crew stay together. Peter Jackson shot The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies this way and Disney also did the second and third Pirates of the Caribbean movies back-to-back.
Since Universal is planning to release Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed so close together, this news really isn’t a surprise. Darker is scheduled for Feb. 10, 2017 and Freed will come just a year later on Feb. 9, 2018.
The Fifty Shades films are based on the “mommy porn” novels by E.L. James, whose husband, Niall Leonard, will write the scripts for the sequels. Jamie Dornan will return to play Christian Grey while Dakota Johnson will play Anastasia Steele again.
Universal’s first film in the series grossed $570 million worldwide, but creative differences with James lead both director Sam Taylor-Johnson and writer Kelly Marcel to leave to series.