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'Fifty Shades of Grey': Will 'Anna Karenina' director Joe Wright take on the movie adaptation?

Multiple media outlets have cited 'insider' sources who say that Joe Wright is currently in the lead for the 'Fifty Shades of Grey' directing job.

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Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP
Director Joe Wright is reportedly the frontrunner for the coveted job of directing the movie adaptation of 'Fifty Shades of Grey.'
  • By Molly Driscoll Staff Writer

Will Joe Wright, the director behind the movies “Anna Karenina” and “Pride and Prejudice,” helm the Hollywood adaptation of “Fifty Shades of Grey”?

Wright's is the latest name being mentioned in discussions about the film adaptation of E.L. James’ erotic bestseller. Casting rumors have also run rampant, but the identity of the actors who will be portraying billionaire Christian Grey and college student Anastasia Steele has not yet been confirmed.

The Hollywood Reporter cited “multiple sources” stating that Wright had become a frontrunner for the director’s job. However, they also stressed that nothing was certain.

“Sources caution that there is no deal in place, and Wright has not officially won the job,” the Hollywood Reporter article read.

Universal Pictures did not comment on the matter.

Meanwhile, “two agency insiders familiar with the directing contest” told TheWrap that the producers of the planned film adaptation, Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti, are rooting for Wright.

Wright has taken on literary adaptations before with the 2007 adaptation of Ian McEwan novel “Atonement” as well as 2005’s “Pride and Prejudice” and 2012’s “Anna Karenina,” though filming James’ erotic novel would obviously be a very different kind of project. “Karenina” actress Keira Knightley starred in all three Wright adaptations, but the star has said before that she’s not interested in the part of Anastasia Steele.

Meanwhile, for those who are wondering how the book could ever be adapted for the screen, “Grey” screenwriter Kelly Marcel said she’s writing the script aiming at an NC-17 rating.

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