"She was given a lot of power, and she used every opportunity to flex that power. It was really challenging to control EL's — I don't want to say 'crazy' but — impulsive instincts."
While that may sound like another clunky bit of dialogue from Fifty Shades of Grey, it's actually a comment made in regards to author EL James' fanatical grip over the movie's production. And the power she would wield often saw her at odds with the director, Sam Taylor-Johnson, with the two arguing over practically everything and making for what has been described as a "grueling" shoot. And although the film is bound to make a mint this weekend, leading to the sequels already being confirmed, there's no guarantee Taylor-Johnson or James is going to want to endure another contentious shoot...one that saw them battle over every single word. That would include the very last word in the film. Seriously.
According to THR, there have been "no discussions" for Taylor-Johnson to return as director for the sequels, even though she's previously admitted to E! that she's under contact for more. The fights she had with James have become very public, and it extends to just how graphic the sex scenes should have been. The author is said to have wanted things to be more explicit, keeping in line with the book, while Taylor-Johnson chose for a more subtle approach. James also didn't seem to understand how script rewrites work, and the screenplay by her, Kelly Marcel, and Patrick Marber underwent some revisions she simply couldn't tolerate. An insider adds, "She will not allow herself to be rewritten, even if it's 'and' or 'but,'", and another saying she "just didn't seem to grasp that in all adaptations, some things need to change. You can't just put the book on the screen."
If Taylor-Johnson doesn't return, could that mean a complete overhaul that includes a brand new cast? Stars Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan apparently don't like one another much, but they seem to agree on the approach Taylor-Johnson took with the film and there are rumors they may not want to come back if a new director is hired. we'll see about that.
So there you have it. Fifty Shades of Grey is in theaters now, and you can check out my review here.
