I have no doubt that by now you’re probably tired of hearing The Interview and everything attached to it, so let’s move on to other, less controversial topics…like Fifty Shades of Grey. The Hollywood adaptation of E.L. James’ popular novel about a businessman who gets into a “sexually liberated” relationship with a young woman will be hitting American theaters the day before Valentine’s Day this year – but not before it has its international premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival on February 11.
Fifty Shades of Grey will only be screened once in Berlin, with lead actors Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan, director Sam Taylor-Johnson, and author E.L. James herself in attendance. I guess you could call this a kinky coup for the Germans, though I’m not convinced that this film deserves a festival premiere.
Meanwhile, Jamie Dornan has proven himself to not be the incredibly boring, vanilla-flavored actor we all think he is by being really, incredibly daring and heading to a sex dungeon to do some research for his role as Christian Grey. He informed Elle UK (via The Playlist) that he “saw a dominant with his two submissives,” but that it was also a much lighter experience than he anticipated:
I was like: ‘Come on guys I know I’m not paying for this but I am expecting a show.’ It was an interesting evening. Then going back to my wife and newborn baby afterwards… I had a long shower before touching either of them.
So fear not, ladies. Your Christian Grey is just as scuzzy as you want him to be, even if the actor playing him is kinda grossed out by the whole idea.
While I am alternately bored and repulsed by the whole Fifty Shades of Grey phenomenon, I’m sure that there are some people out there who are very excited for this film. So, I hope that this new information about Dornan really thrills you and you get to head out either to Berlin on February 11, or nationwide on February 13, to see all the charming, totally-not-problematic smuttiness that this film will undoubtedly offer.
Fifty Shades of Grey to Celebrate Its International Premiere at the Berlinale
Fifty Shades of Grey, the highly anticipated film adaptation of the bestselling book, will celebrate its international premiere as a Berlinale Special Gala at the 65th Berlin International Film Festival.
Written by author E L James, the book was translated into 51 languages. The film is directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson (Nowhere Boy) and produced by Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti alongside James. The screenplay for the film is by Kelly Marcel.
Stepping into the iconic roles of Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele are Jamie Dornan (Marie Antoinette) and Dakota Johnson (The Social Network).
The Berlinale will present Fifty Shades of Grey on February 11, 2015 with director Sam Taylor-Johnson, author E L James, and actors Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan in attendance.
Fifty Shades of Grey will be screened one time only at the Berlinale.