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 Darker (film) the first to be released in 2016. Right after the announcement, the director told "Digital Spy" that "it's not my decision, and I haven't been privy to any of the discussions." On March 25, 2015, Taylor-Johnson officially left the franchise. On April 2, 2015, "Deadline" confirmed that De Luca had left Sony Pictures to return to Universal to produce the "Fifty Shades" sequels. On April 22, 2015, it was announced that E. L. James' husband, Niall Leonard, would write the script for the sequel. In April 2015, Universal Pictures chair Donna Langley told "The Hollywood Reporter" that the second installment