Fifty Shades (film series) the second, "Fifty Shades Darker", was released on February 10, 2017. "Fifty Shades Freed", the third film, was released on February 9, 2018. Worldwide, the series has grossed over $1.320 billion, making it the fourth highest-grossing R-rated franchise of all-time. Two years after the trilogy's first novel was released, several distribution companies had bid for the rights of the trilogy. Warner Bros., Sony, Paramount and Universal, as well as Mark Wahlberg's production company, put in bids for the film rights. The winning bid went to Universal Studios and Focus Features, at $5 million. With James gaining control over the process
E. L. James list of the highest-earning authors with earnings of $95m which included $5m for the film rights to "Fifty Shades of Grey". On 1 June 2015 James announced the upcoming release of "Grey: Fifty Shades of Grey as Told by Christian", which was released into stores on 18 June 2015. "Darker: Fifty Shades Darker as Told by Christian" was released November 28, 2017. James was one of the British celebrities, including Tom Hiddleston, Benedict Cumberbatch and Rachel Riley, to design and sign her own card for the UK children's charity Thomas Coram Foundation for Children. The campaign was launched by crafting