The Fifty Shades of Grey movie is still absent a director, but this morning we’re learning that Anna Karenina and Pride & Prejudice helmer Joe Wright is leading the race to nab the spot.

The Hollywood Reporter says that director Wright has “emerged as a front-runner” in the pool of people who may direct the adaptation of E.L. James’ Fifty Shades of Grey. Wright’s other directing credits include Hanna and Atonement.

No deals are in place yet, but with Universal hoping to release the film next summer, we should expect a decision to be made sometime over the next couple of months.

A few weeks ago we learned that director Gus Van Sant shot a sex scene with actor Alex Pettyfer so that Van Sant could demonstrate his vision for the film. Evidently, there are a few high profile directors who really want this gig. We still don’t know which female actress was involved in the sex scene with Pettyfer when they shot in Atlanta.

No Fifty Shades of Grey movie casting decisions have been made as of this month. Those will likely begin once a director has been selected. Many actors have been asked if they’d take on the roles of Anatasia and Christian Grey. Arrow star Stephen Amell admitted he took a meeting for the role of the latter character in recent months.

The book to film adaptation is a highly anticipated project. Fifty Shades of Grey was the best selling book of 2012.

Thanks, THR.