It has been a long, drawn-out process — at least that's what it has felt like for fans — but Fifty Shades Darker may finally have its director: James Foley. The accomplished director was chosen from a pool of contenders and is the perfect person to bring mystery and sexy drama to the sequel.
Foley has been the rumored choice for a few weeks now, but Variety has reported that he's as good as chosen and that negotiations are under way. This is very good news for a movie that has been shrouded in mystery since the moment Fifty Shades of Grey director Sam Taylor-Johnson dropped out, possibly because of reported tension and creative differences with writer EL James.
Foley's resume is chockful of dramatic, suspenseful '80s and '90s flicks like Fear, Glengarry Glen Ross, and, most recently, Netflix's House of Cards. Given how the second installment in the trilogy will likely be a darker film that includes semi-psychotic characters like Jack Hyde, Foley is a fantastic choice — one who will be able to translate James's story from page to screen.
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Production is set to begin in early 2016 and the film will reportedly open on Feb. 14, 2017. One of the reasons why we haven't heard much in the way of casting is because a director hadn't yet been confirmed. This news is major because it brings us one step closer to finding out which actors/actresses will take on seminal roles like Mrs. Robinson and Jack Hyde.
Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson are already on board to reprise the roles of Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele — it's just a matter of time before all else is revealed on this project.
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