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 warnings regarding their content". In February 2015, the Malaysian Home Ministry banned the "Fifty Shades of Grey" books shortly after banning its film adaptation after permitting them for three years in local bookstores, citing morality-related reasons. A film adaptation of the book was produced by Focus Features, Michael De Luca Productions, and Trigger Street Productions, with Universal Pictures and Focus Features securing the rights to the trilogy in March 2012. Universal is also the film's distributor. Charlie Hunnam was originally cast in the role of Christian Grey alongside Dakota Johnson in the role of Anastasia Steele, but Hunnam gave up