UPDATE: The global release of "Fifty Shades of Grey," to be directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, will kick off in North America on August 1, 2014, via Focus Features.
EARLIER: Yes, Universal Pictures and Focus Features have chosen a woman director, Brit Sam Taylor-Johnson ("Nowhere Boy"), to direct the film adaptation of E.L. James' global bestseller “Fifty Shades of Grey.” Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti are producing the film which has a green light to start shooting this fall. They have not yet nailed down a location. Sources place the budget in the $40 million range. Taylor-Johnson beat out a bevy of contenders including Gus Van Sant, who lobbied for it, and Darren Aronofsky, who reportedly turned it down; only a few got to meet with author James. The two fellow Brits hit it off at their Tuesday meeting and Taylor-Johnson landed the job. She promises: “For the legions of fans, I want to say that I will honor the power of Erika’s book and the characters of Christian and Anastasia. They are under my skin too.” The book has sold over 70 million ebooks and printed copies worldwide. The trick with hiring the right director was finding someone who could handle the delicate sexual nuances of a highly erotic story on film without making audiences wriggle with discomfort.
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