The Fifty Shades of Grey adaptation is that much closer to happening, as Terra Nova co-creator Kelly Marcel has been hired to pen the script.
In addition to the short-lived Terra Nova, Marcel also penned the Black List script Saving Mr. Banks, which is currently in production at Disney. It is that script that reportedly won Marcel the job.
Producers Mike De Luca and Dana Brunetti had this to say of the hire in the official press release:
“Kelly’s work demonstrates her flawless structural technique and passionate commitment to emotion, humor and depth of character which is particularly visible in the celebrated screenplay for the upcoming Saving Mr. Banks,” De Luca said.
“We were all taken with the depth and passion of Kelly’s engagement with the characters and world E. L. James has created, and we knew she was the right person to augment our Fifty Shades family,” said Brunetti.
Deadline’s Mike Fleming writes of the hire:
“Marcel’s work showed an emotional maturity and grace that made the principals believe she was the right choice to write a script that is tricky. While there is steamy sex and that has helped catapult the book to global phenomenon status, there is an intricate emotional dynamic to the principal characters, the business magnate Christian Grey and the recent college graduate Anastasia Steele.”
Author E.L. James, who revealed the decision today on Twitter, is said to have had a major role in the decision. Back in August, The Hollywood Reporter released a shortlist of potential screenwriters (including Marcel), that also included Karen Croner (One True Thing), Dan Fogelman (Crazy, Stupid, Love) and Veena Sud (The Killing).
Universal Pictures and Focus Features jointly acquired the rights to the book back in March for $5 million.