Fifty Shades Darker | February 10th, 2017 | First Trailer on Page 13

[grim22]

http://variety.com/2015/film/news/fifty-shades-of-grey-sequel-author-e-l-james-demands-control-over-script-fifty-shades-darker-1201436512/

 

Now that “Fifty Shades of Grey” has become an international box office phenomenon, author E.L. James is seeking more control over the sequel by writing the script herself. Universal Pictures, which had been resistant to the idea, is currently discussing the potential move with James, who wrote the bestselling erotic trilogy about Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele, Variety has learned.

Given the success of “Fifty Shades of Grey,” which has so far grossed more than $300 million worldwide, the next logical step would be for the studio to announce the greenlight to its sequel, “Fifty Shades Darker.”

According to insiders, the delay in the production of “Fifty Shades Darker” is related to the fact that Universal execs and James are still arguing over details. Unlike most successful franchises, which aim to retain the team behind the first film, it appears that “Fifty Shades” will undergo a dramatic creative reshuffling in the weeks to come. Sources close to the project don’t expect director Sam Taylor-Johnson or screenwriter Kelly Marcel to be back for the second installment, though reps for the studio say no official decisions have been made.

“The studio had always intended to sit down with the author after the film opened and discuss next steps, and that has not yet happened,” said a Universal spokesman.

If James does write the screenplay for “Fifty Shades Darker,” it could mean a later release date for the sequel. James has never written a film before, and the studio may need to factor in extra time for revisions. But as in the case of Gillian Flynn, who wrote both the book and screenplay for “Gone Girl,” the project could potentially benefit from an author adapting her own characters.

Because of this uncertainty, production on “Fifty Shades Darker” likely won’t get under way until the first quarter of 2016. That would mean the sequel wouldn’t arrive until late 2016 or the first quarter of 2017. Without a shooting script or start date, having the movie ready for next year’s Valentine’s Day is highly unlikely.

It’s rare in showbiz for an author to exercise the kind of oversight that James has had over the bigscreen journey of “Fifty Shades.” James didn’t peddle the movie rights until her books were already a worldwide phenomenon, and every studio in town wanted to adapt the trilogy, which gave her considerable bargaining power. As a result, she was able to negotiate a deal with Universal and Focus Features that gave her control over how Christian and Anastasia would appear in the film. Not only does she exercise casting approval — she first met Jamie Dornan, who plays Christian, at his audition in Los Angeles (and was a fan of his work on the BBC TV series “The Fall”) — she’s also credited as a producer on the first movie.

 

When J.K. Rowling sold her “Harry Potter” books to Warner Bros., she weighed in on a few creative decisions — asking that the cast be made up of British actors, for example. But then she allowed the filmmakers to take liberties with her stories. The films’ screenwriter, Steve Kloves, has said Rowling was hands-off. The same went for Stephenie Meyer, author of the “Twilight” franchise, which inspired “50 Shades.”

On the other hand, James was very involved in all aspects of the “Fifty Shades” film, as she attended creative meetings to make sure that the film didn’t veer too far from her book. According to sources, James, who has no prior film experience, would at times hold up the creative process by offering input that wasn’t in line with the filmmakers’ vision. But given James’ contract with Universal, the director and other producers on the film couldn’t go around her.

James and director Taylor-Johnson constantly fought on set and in the editing room on details surrounding the movie. “We disagreed a lot,” Taylor-Johnson told Variety in January. “She created these characters and the story. I was trying to create a film experience that would honor the book but at the same time give us a fresh perspective. That was difficult for her. We’d battle things out. I think you could say we crossed every scenario through our battles.”

 

[ddddeeee]

Get out of there Sam. Take your money and run.

[Avatree]

I love the quote that says "as in the case with Gillian Flynn, the film could benefit from having the author adapt her own characters"

[ddddeeee]

Is she seriously annoyed that STJ tried to elevate her book? She's very deluded.

[CJohn]

She is going to write a crazy script that no actor will want to do. 

[Jonwo]

so I guess either October 2016 or February 2017.

[Avatree]

I really don't understand why she is demanding such control. Why wouldn't you let people who know what they're doing do it? If anything, a better movie will result in more money for James.

[The Futurist]

Let her direct the freaking sequels so the camp level is amped up to 11 !!!

[Jonwo]

I really don't understand why she is demanding such control. Why wouldn't you let people who know what they're doing do it? If anything, a better movie will result in more money for James.

Even JK Rowling wasn't as strident, given EL James is unlikely to write another book that will reach the same heights as The Fifty Shades trilogy, she probably wants to wring as much money and control as possible

[Avatree]

Even JK Rowling wasn't as strident, given EL James is unlikely to write another book that will reach the same heights as The Fifty Shades trilogy, she probably wants to wring as much money and control as possible

Yeah but I don't see how she earns more money from it by writing. Surely the opposite

[grim22]

Yeah but I don't see how she earns more money from it by writing. Surely the opposite

 

I wonder what her contract looks like actually. She may have gross points attached and feels that her first book being toned down by the movie lost her money. Universal bid a lot for the rights when there was a bidding war underway, she probably got a lot of creative control clauses written into that contract.

[James]

I really don't understand why she is demanding such control. Why wouldn't you let people who know what they're doing do it? If anything, a better movie will result in more money for James.

How is that not understandable? It's your world. Think of it this way: you spend a considerable amount of time creating a world and those characters (no matter how bad the books is written). Of course you don't consider anyone else being better than you at taking creative decisions regarding YOUR world. If anything, even if the movie turns out to be a total disaster, I can see EL's point. If I'd be in her place I'd do the exact same thing.

 

Even JK Rowling wasn't as strident, given EL James is unlikely to write another book that will reach the same heights as The Fifty Shades trilogy, she probably wants to wring as much money and control as possible

JK had a much bigger control over the later movies than the first ones but I agree with your point.

[WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot]

Lawd, the fucking awful script of this movie was the worst of it's problems. Giving the author control over this may actually make it completely OTT, the BATMAN AND ROBIN of BDSM movies.

 

Poor Dakota. She deserves all the Oscars ever for doing this LOL!

[WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot]

I really don't understand why she is demanding such control. Why wouldn't you let people who know what they're doing do it? If anything, a better movie will result in more money for James.

 

I've heard not too good things about James in real life… 

Edited February 20, 2015 by WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot

[filmlover]

Somebody needs to shoot a tranquilizer dart at E.L. James. Like really, shut up, lady.

 

Didn't want you work messed with? Shouldn't have sold the rights in the first place. Imagine if she does end up taking control of the production, though. A direct book-to-movie transition would mean a full-on porno, meaning forget about it showing up at your local AMC or Regal. Poor Dakota Johnson.

[spatulashack]

I wonder what her contract looks like actually. She may have gross points attached and feels that her first book being toned down by the movie lost her money. Universal bid a lot for the rights when there was a bidding war underway, she probably got a lot of creative control clauses written into that contract.

 

Donna Langley wooed James and ultimately Universal got the rights but part of the contract stipulated that Focus Features handle the marketing and distribution of the film.  For whatever reason James felt the studio's specialty division would be a better fit.  Universal brass disagreed but in the end they relented.  The merger of Focus and Film District complicated things since Peter Schlessel essentially took his entire Film District team with him causing the majority of Focus executives to be let go.  The NEW Focus Features wasn't what James had signed up for so she eventually allowed Donna and her team at Universal to handle all aspects of the release.  Despite the huge opening and the fact that the movie was indeed best suited for a big standard release and marketing campaign, the entire ordeal no doubt caused James to become more protective of the sequels.  Don't quote me on this but something tells me that a new contract had to be written up in order to move distribution over to Universal proper which may have inadvertently given James more control than Donna and Universal originally intended.  In the end, I'm sure the success of the film will render most of this irrelevent and everyone will quickly come to an agreement to get both sequels into production before the end of the year.

Edited February 20, 2015 by spatulashack

[Chriss]

lol

[Heat Vision]

James actually thinks she is talented LOL

[Neo]

 In the end, I'm sure the success of the film will render most of this irrelevent and everyone will quickly come to an agreement to get both sequels into production before the end of the year.

‘Fifty Shades of Grey 2′ begins filming in Vancouver in June

[Avatree]

How is that not understandable? It's your world. Think of it this way: you spend a considerable amount of time creating a world and those characters (no matter how bad the books is written). Of course you don't consider anyone else being better than you at taking creative decisions regarding YOUR world. If anything, even if the movie turns out to be a total disaster, I can see EL's point. If I'd be in her place I'd do the exact same thing.

If she didn't want anyone else making creative decisions, she shouldn't/wouldn't have sold the rights to filmmakers.