Get to know Kelly Marcel. According to a press release from Focus Features, the British writer and producer has been hired to adapt E L James' best-selling sex novel "Fifty Shades of Grey."
Marcel is best known for her work on the now-canceled Fox series "Terra Nova." She also wrote the script for "Saving Mr. Banks," a 2011 Black List entry about the making of "Mary Poppins." That film is currently in production with Tom Hanks starring as Walt Disney and Emma Thompson as "Poppins" writer P.L. Travers. John Lee Hancock ("The Blind Side") is aboard to direct.
“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,'” "Fifty Shades of Grey" movie producer Michael De Luca ("The Social Network) said in a statement.
“We were all taken with the depth and passion of Kelley'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 "Fifty Shades" co-producer Dana Brunetti.
"Fifty Shades of Grey," the first of three novels in James' trilogy, is about Anastasia Steele, young college student who embarks on an eye-opening sexual relationship with Christian Grey, an older businessman. As yet, no one is cast in the leading roles, though names like Emma Watson, Anna Kendrick, Mila Kunis, Ryan Gosling, Alexander Skarsgaard and Armie Hammer have been discussed. As Movieline's Jen Yamato notes, Marcel re-wrote "Bronson" and started a theater company with "Bronson" star Tom Hardy. Perhaps, Bane would make a good Christian Grey?
"Fifty Shades of Grey" is currently in pre-production.
