'Fifty Shades of Grey' Trailer Hits This Month; Universal Moves Ahead on 'Fifty Shades Darker'

Thanks to my friend, author, and Fifty Shades of Grey obsessive Jen Khan for cluing me to this one. A few weeks ago, on the apparent birthday of one Mr. Christian Grey, we learned the Fifty Shades of Grey trailer had been pushed back to September, which no doubt had bored housewives everywhere fuming. But apparently things have changed because E.L. James has taken to Twitter and revealed we'll get a first look at the trailer in just a couple of weeks.

Hold on to your hats folks. You'll get your first look at the FSoG movie trailer on July 24. I’ve had a sneak peek and WOW! #WeAimToPlease
— E L James (@E_L_James) July 9, 2014

Now, the skeptic in me notices that she says "first look at" the trailer, and not "the first trailer" for Fifty Shades of Grey, meaning it could be one of those annoying trailer teases. But we'll just have to wait and see, won't we? Meanwhile, Universal is convinced the erotic thriller will be a hit and are moving forward on the sequel, Fifty Shades Darker, which continues the sexual back-and-forth between Grey and young Anastasia Steele. While the cast led by Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan is expected to return, writer Kelly Marcel won't be and it's unclear if Sam Taylor-Johnson will be back to direct. This is being pitched as an open writing call, so all you wannabe scribes better get out there and start sending in some pitches. 

I think my friend Jen could do it. Her book Emma Chase (Sins of the Father) looks like something Fifty Shades fans will dig, so check it out won't you?

Fifty Shades of Grey is expected to open February 13th 2015. [TheTrackingBoard]

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'Fifty Shades of Grey' finds a screenwriter in Kelly Marcel

Normally, the news that a film has landed a screenwriter doesn't rate as all that notable for me, but when it involves the BDSM hit novel Fifty Shades of Grey, well it's a pretty big deal. The book, which has become an erotic sensation with women everywhere, will be adapted by fast-rising scribe Kelly Marcel, and she's got a pretty tough job ahead of her.

This will be the most high profile gig for Marcel yet, although she's been climbing the ranks of Hollywood's best writers over the last few months. She got her biggest break as a writer and exec-producer on the failed Terra Nova TV series, and also provided the screenplay for Saving Mr. Banks, the upcoming Disney biopic starring Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson. Adapting E.L. James' novel is going to pose her biggest challenge yet, as she must find a way to bring the bawdy and risque sexual content to the screen in a way that doesn't turn casual filmgoers off and raise a red flag with the MPAA. This isn't Secretary we're talking about here, and we could be looking at a situation where some serious toning down could be needed to secure an R-rating. But that also runs the risk of alienating the millions who love the book just as it is. Tough situation, indeed.

As for now, there's still no director or actors attached, and as you can imagine fans have been pretty vocal about their choices. Some of the popular picks to play 27-year old billionaire Christian Grey are Alexander Skarsgard, Robert Pattinson, Ian Somerhalder, Michael Fassbender, and Matt Bomer. Anna Kendrick, Alexis Bledel, Mila Kunis, and Emma Watson are just a few of the names some think could fit as the innocent Ana Steele, who becomes Grey's sexual slave.

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