They've finally got a director, aside from the cast, and the rest of the production team. What else could be delaying the making of "Fifty Shades Darker"?
According to reports, it's the budget.
"Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson were only paid $250,000 for their roles as Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele in Fifty Shades of Grey," Inquisitr relayed. "With the first film grossing over $550 million in worldwide sales, the two stars are negotiating for a much larger payout that better corresponds with how much the movie is projected to make."
Interestingly, producers are allegedly balking at giving the stars a 7-figure payout, despite the possibility of the sequel earning pretty much the same revenues as the first film.
The buzz about the lead stars' salaries began right after the first film opened in theaters, especially after it was clear that the movie was a box office hit. In fact, was expected that the actors would get a pay raise for the next installment, considering the income generated by "Fifty Shades of Grey."
"Sources say the pair received $250,000 each (plus tiered box-office bonuses) to star in Universal's erotic hit based on the first of EL James' trilogy of novels, and both signed three-picture deals," The Hollywood Reporter revealed. "But like most stars of franchise films, they will try to renegotiate for seven-figure raises for 'Fifty Shades Darker' and 'Fifty Shades Freed'."
"Neither Johnson, 25, nor Dornan, 32, received any backend compensation on the first film," THR added.
An insider affirmed to the entertainment news source that a renegotiation is a natural progression in the wake of a successful movie.
"Look at 'Twilight' and 'Hunger Games,' and that's where it is heading," the source pointed out.
However, it appears that the film's producer, Dana Brunetti, is not enthusiastic about the idea, as he "is looking to keep the first film's $40 million budget from skyrocketing because of salaries."
Will heads butt over the salary issue? Will it cause delays to production? That's one thing to look out for in the coming weeks and months as more updates about the sequel trickle in.
Meanwhile, Charlie Hunnam, who was originally slated to play the troubled billionaire, recently revealed that walking away from "Fifty Shades of Grey" the "worst professional experience of my life."
"It was the most emotionally destructive and difficult thing that I've ever had to deal with professionally," he told Vman. "It was heartbreaking."
However, according to Hunnam, he was keen on keeping a commitment he made to director Guillermo del Toro. He said he had told del Toro he would do "Crimson Peak" with him a year before the "Fifty Shades" offer.
"People were saying, 'Are you crazy? Guillermo still has got four months to recast, it's the fourth lead, you can go and do this [instead].' I said, 'I can't. He's my friend, I've done a film with him, I gave him my word,'" the "Pacific Rim" star said.
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