Listen, we didn’t like typing out that headline anymore than you liked reading it, but it seems the erotic drama train that is “Fifty Shades Of Grey” is going to keep right on rolling. As you know, Universal paid a staggering $3 million for the rights to the book last year, but so far, development has been quiet. Kelly Marcel (“Saving Mr. Banks“) is writing the script, while “The Social Network” producers Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti are shepherding the project. So this bit of news is an interesting turn of events.
While the studio has no formal offer out to anyone, Gus Van Sant was/is apparently on one of their wishlists to direct, and in a bid to prove he’s the man to make ‘Grey’ happen, he went ahead and shot a test sex scene featuring Alex Pettyfer in the role of Christian Grey, the businessman who kinks it up with Anastasia Steele, a much younger woman. In fact, he takes her virginity and that’s the scene Van Sant shot (no word on the actress who got Pettyfer-ed). Now, here comes a whole bunch of caveats.
Van Sant isn’t signed, Pettyfer isn’t signed (though he is starring in Universal’s “Endless Love” remake) so nothing is confirmed. Apparently author EL James does have approval over director, casting and script so this could all mean nothing, no matter how hot and artful and tasteful it might be. Lastly, the script isn’t finished yet so…everyone, cool it? We certainly hope Van Sant moves on, because we’d rather see him do anything else but make a sex movie for Moms. [The Wrap]