UPDATE: Exciting news people - the 50 Shades of Grey movie is coming really soon. In fact, it might even be in cinemas as early as next year! Now, we know that 2014 doesn't sound imminent but considering the final cast still hasn't been revealed yet, filming hasn't even started so actually that's pretty good going. The chairman of Universal Pictures Adam Fogelson, the studio who've signed up the worldwide smash hit from E.L. James said, 'I certainly understand why some people might take that point of view. But I don’t believe that [author E.L. James] had any interest in going to a studio where rushing it into production was the vision. I don’t believe that the second or third film would have benefited from that strategy. And I think that there are totally legitimate questions about what this book is as a movie. I will tell you that it is an absolute priority for us. It’s conceivable that we could be ready to release it as early as next summer.'
Most recently, the film's screenwriter Kelly Marcel revealed to *The Sunday Times *that it is going to be as true to the book’s explicit sex scenes as possible. 'It’s going to be raunchy,' Marcel says of the film, which may very well get an NC-17 rating in the US - that's an 18 to us Brits. So what else have we heard about the film so far? We've rounded up the details, you know, just in case you’ve been living in a cave or something...
1. Mila Kunis to play Anastacia Steele?
There have been no confirmed castings. Yet. But the twittersphere, blogosphere and every other medium has gone speculation crazy. So far, Mila Kunis seems to be the frontrunner. But, we’re not convinced the super hot actress is in fact the right choice to play the naïve and unassuming PLAIN Ana. One thing is for sure, if she lands the leading role she will look damn fine in the buff.
2. Kelly Marcel will write the screenplay
Bret Easton Ellis was a front-runner at one point but British screenwriter Kelly Marcel has been confirmed as the choice to adapt 50 Shades for the big screen. In fact, she’s already been holed up in La La land with E.L. James adapting the novel. She’s worked on Terra Nova with Spielberg, did the rewrite on Bronson and is like, bezzie mates with Tom Hardy.
3. Who will play Christian Grey?
Everyone from Ryan Gosling to Michael Fassbender has been mentioned as a potential Christian Grey but one person in particular has sparked controversy. Matt Bomer (star of White Collar) is a firm favourite among fans but the fact that he is openly gay has led to some comments that he might not be convincing. Erm, that’s why it’s called acting, right?! Ian Somerhalder of *Vampire Diaries *fame is also in the running alongside Man of Steel Henry Cavill and real life porn star James Dean.
4. It will be super sexy
In the Sunday Times interview, Kelly Marcel dished on the sex scenes. 'We are 100% going there. We did go through and decide which ones are our favourites and which are not. Most of them are in there, but I can’t say more than that.' Ooh, tantalising. While adapting the novel, discussions included whether to mention the use of a ahem fist (in the book, the maid stops short in horror when she hears Ana and Christian discussing this) and it will almost certainly have an 18 rating in the UK. Sooo not one to watch with your parents then.
5. Random House employees got an extra bonus
The writing has been criticised, it’s been dubbed ‘mummy porn’ by many and even we grew a little tiresome of the number of ‘oh my’s’ but publishers Random House are positively gleeful over the success of 50 Shades of Grey, giving employees a rumoured $5,000 holiday bonus at the end of last year.
6. Angelina Jolie has been rumoured to direct
While Universal Pictures, the studio behind the movie, have denied approaching Ange, it doesn’t stop everyone and their dog from speculating about her involvement. But, after her directorial debut last year In The Land of Blood and Honey set in war torn Bosnia, we reckon it’s unlikely her second project will be such a swing in the opposite direction.