Frontrunner Emerges For Fifty Shades Of Grey Sequel Director

Ben Arnold
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Universal Pictures has settled on three possible directors for the ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ Sequel, 'Fifty Shades Darker’, according to reports.

Director Sam Taylor-Johnson exited the running soon after the release of the first movie in a hail of critical barbs, but with the sequel approaching, Universal and author E.L. James are now said to be close to a decision.

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James Foley, Mark Pellington and Tanya Wexler are up for the job, Foley being the current favourite, says the Hollywood Reporter.

Foley has most recently helmed 12 episodes of the acclaimed Netflix series 'House of Cards’, and was also responsible for the classic 1992 movie of David Mamet’s 'Glengarry Glen Ross’.

Pellington is better known as a music video director, but also made 'Arlington Road’ with Tim Robbins in 1999 and 'The Mothman Prophecies’ with Richard Gere in 2002.

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Wexler, meanwhile, the only female in the mix, made the period rom-com 'Hysteria’ with Hugh Dancy and Maggie Gyllenhaal in 2011, about the invention of the vibrator.

Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson will be back for the sequel, which further develops the relationship of Dornan’s billionaire and S&M enthusiast Christian Grey, and Johnson’s Anastasia Steele, who is confronted by some of Christian’s former flames.

Like Taylor-Johnson, Kelly Marcel, who adapted E.L. James’ best-selling book, is not returning, with James’ husband Niall Leonard writing the screenplay instead.

Taylor-Johnson admitted to clashing with James on set over their opposing visions for the movie.

But despite being critically hammered – though many critics said it still improved on the book – it made $570 million (£363.3 million) worldwide.

Image credits: Universal/Getty

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