Forget who might helm the Justice League or Batman film reboot, the only Hollywood filmmaking appointment a large portion of females cared about (and a significant amount of men no doubt!) was the identity of Universal and Focus Features' Fifty Shades Of Grey director. After months of speculation, we now know exactly who will be bringing us the hot and kinky, and getting us all hot and bothered... Sam Taylor-Johnson, the female director of Nowhere Boy, the 2009 movie about the "coming of age" years of the future Beatles front-man John Lennon. That movie starred Kick-Ass actor Aaron Johnson in the leading role, who Sam fell in love with during the making of the film and has subsequently married, adding his surname as part of hers. After the media interest that Sam Taylor-Johson, now 46, endured when she started dating her leading actor who is exactly half her age (he is still a youthful 23), could fans of the novel see something of a parable in her recent background compared to that of the novel's leads, 27-year-old billionaire Christian Grey and the younger object of his sexual affection, Anastasia Steele? Additionally, does this now make Aaron Taylor-Johnson the firm favourite to play Grey, or is he slightly too young?
Adapted from EL James' mainstream erotica novel, Kelly Marcel (Saving Mr. Banks, Terra Nova) has wrote the screenplay that tells the story of the sexually charged relationship between Grey and Steele which in the book is intensely graphic and not shy on the details. Interestingly,
The Wrap reports tonight that Black Swan helmer Darren Aronofsky turned down the movie about a month ago, which would have been something (he certainly pushed our numbers with that infamous lesbian scene!) but he was busy with the post-production final touches on his biblical epic Noah. As for casting, The Wrap claim British access Felicity Jones, from Like Crazy and Cemetery Junction, is being branded around for the role of Anastasia and that Aaron Johnson isn't actively pursuing the part of Christian. We'll have to wait and see on those. Another interesting tidbit in all this is Gus Van Sant was keen to direct the movie earlier, even going so far as creating his own short teaser for what it would look like, using Alex Pettyfer as Christian. However Universal were keen to hire an edgier, younger and perhaps most significantly, a female director, for the gig. Sam Taylor-Johnson now has a lot of fans to try and not disappoint and somehow translate the extreme nature of the page onto the big screen. Universal announced the news in a press release, with producer Michael DeLuca saying;
"Sam's unique ability to gracefully showcase complex relationships dealing with love, emotion and sexual chemistry make her the ideal director to bring Christian and Anastasia's relationship to life," said De Luca. "E L James characters and vivid storytelling require a director who is willing to take risks and push the envelope where needed and Sam is a naturalfit.
Taylor-Johnson said;
"I am excited to be charged with the evolution of 'Fifty Shades of Grey' from page to screen," said Taylor-Johnson. "For the legions of fans, I want to say that I will honor the power of Erika's book and the characters of Christian and Anastasia. They are under my skin too."
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