Joe Wright could become the man to bring E.L. James’ whips-and-chains saga 50 Shades Of Grey to the big screen, with THR claiming that the Anna Karenina director has become the favourite to take the helm.
Wright has a long-standing relationship with Focus and Universal, who have paid $5 million for the rights to the first novel in the series, and his track record with the studio is thought to have him in their thinking once more.
If Wright does end up bagging the job, it will be a blow to Gus Van Sant, who was so keen to adapt the film that he recently filmed a reel of test-footage featuring his chosen leading man, Alex Pettyfer.
Whether or not Wright himself is so enthused by bringing the frothy saga of Anastasia Steele (that name...) and Christian Grey to the big screen remains to be seen, although as the film will surely be a financial slam-dunk, it might be hard to turn down.
London-based screenwriter Kelly Marcel is currently adapting the first novel into a screenplay, while Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti are producing. Hopefully we’ll have a director confirmed sooner rather than later...
