'Fifty Shades' Sequels Release Dates Announced
Start making your Valentine's plans for 2017 and 2018, Fifty Shades of Grey fans, the sequel release dates have officially been announced!
NEWS: E.L. James' Husband Will Write the 'Fifty Shades of Grey' Sequel
The dates for the next film adaptations in E.L. James’ erotic trilogy were announced at CinemaCon on Thursday, with Fifty Shades Darker set to premiere on Feb. 10, 2017 and Fifty Shades Darker coming a year later on Feb. 9, 2018.
News: FIFTY SHADES DARKER: Feb 10, 2017; FIFTY SHADES FREED: Feb 9, 2018. #CinemaCon
— Josh Lincoln Dickey (@NotoriousJLD) April 23, 2015It was announced Wednesday that James’ husband Niall Leonard will be penning the screenplay for Fifty Shades Darker after both Fifty Shades of Grey screenwriter Kelly Marcel and director Sam Taylor-Johnson announced that they would not be returning for future installments of the S&M franchise.
"Niall is an outstanding writer in his own right, with multiple established credits, and we are lucky to have him join Team Fifty," said producer Michael De Luca in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter.
A director for the sequels has not yet been announced. Production on Fifty Shades Darker is slated to begin in early 2016.
VIDEO: Rumors Suggest Jamie Dornan Won’t Return to 'Fifty Shades' (Yeah, Right!)
Fifty Shades star Jamie Dornan addressed rumors that he was leaving the franchise earlier this year. See more in the video below.