If it's up to Universal Studios chairman Adam Fogelman, the hotly anticipated big-screen adaptation of E.J. James' bestseller "50 Shades of Grey" will be released next year.
Fogelson told The Hollywood Reporter in an interview Wednesday that the film "is an absolute priority for us. It's conceivable that we could be ready to release it as early as next summer."
Slideshow: Who should play Anastasia, Christian in '50 Shades of Grey'?
The rights to "50 Shades of Grey" is owned by Focus Features, which is a subsidiary of Universal. Fogelman defended the studio's slow pace in getting the film into production.
"I don't believe that (James) had any interest in going to a studio where rushing it into production was the vision," Fogelman told THR.
Kelly Marcel (TV's "Terra Nova" and the upcoming Walt Disney-themed movie "Saving Mr. Banks") has been hired by Focus to write the screenplay.
'Like' Tim Lammers on Facebook
Fogelman denied rumors in the THR interview that Angelina Jolie was considered to direct.
He said the studio is "involved in a different project with her," referring to the WWII drama, "Unbroken," and that "we have had really, really interesting, great conversations with talented, serious filmmakers."
More Slideshows:
Slideshow: Guess smiles of stars
Comments