Fifty Shades (film series) of the making of the film, she hand-picked Dana Brunetti and Michael De Luca as the producers. On June 19, 2013, Sam Taylor-Johnson was chosen to direct the first film. On February 6, 2015, Taylor-Johnson announced the sequels, prompting she would return to direct the sequels. It was later revealed that Taylor-Johnson would not return. On August 20, 2015, it was revealed by "Deadline Hollywood" that James Foley was the front-runner to direct the sequel and third film "Fifty Shades Freed". Kelly Marcel was chosen as the screenwriter for the first film. On April 22, 2015, it was announced that
Fifty Shades of Grey (film) continuance, stating that "much or all" of the "Fifty Shades" material was part of the public domain because it was originally published in various venues as a fan fiction based on the "Twilight" series. A lawyer for Smash Pictures further commented that the federal copyright registrations for the books were "invalid and unenforceable" and that the film "did not violate copyright or trademark laws". The lawsuit was eventually settled out of court for an undisclosed sum and Smash Pictures agreed to stop any further production or promotion of the film. In April 2015, "The Hollywood Reporter" reported that E. L.