Dakota Johnson Got Real About 'Psychotic' Filming of $1.325 Billion 50 Shades Franchise

When 50 Shades of Grey was released in 2015, it became a household name right that instant. An explicit film adaptation of a more explicit book, it garnered tons of attention worldwide.

As of 2023, the 50 Shades franchise comprises three movies that grossed over $1 billion in the box office in total. But as exciting and arousing as the movies are, the atmosphere was totally different behind the scenes.

Dakota Johnson who plays Anastasia Steele in the franchise spoke up about her experience on the set of 50 Shades of Grey. To begin with, the actress didn't find a better word to describe the filming process than simply 'psychotic.'

Seven years after the first 50 Shades movie was released, Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith's daughter gave an interview to Variety. The actress said that it's unlikely there would be any 50 Shades movies at all if anybody had known how difficult filming them would be. And, most importantly, the films we have today aren't the ones she once signed up for.

According to Johnson, the bulk of the problems came from the author of the 50 Shades book series — E. L. James. She allegedly rewrote the entire script once Charlie Hunnam had turned down the role of Christian Grey.

'She had a lot of creative control, all day, every day, and she just demanded that certain things happen. There were parts of the books that just wouldn't work in a movie, like the inner monologue, which was at times incredibly cheesy. It wouldn't work to say out loud. It was always a battle. Always,' Johnson told Variety.

Moreover, when dialogue with James was to no avail, the movie's director Sam Taylor-Johnson cunningly filmed the scenes with Dakota and Jamie Dornan (who portrayed Christian Grey) both ways — the author's and his. And while the actress said she had no regrets about taking part in the franchise, she had been anxious to talk about her experience in it for a long time.

'I was young. I was 23. So it was scary. There were a lot of different disagreements. I haven't been able to talk about this truthfully ever because you want to promote a movie the right way, and I'm proud of what we made ultimately and everything turns out the way it's supposed to, but it was tricky,' Johnson explained.

Fortunately, it's over. The movies did turn out highly successful with fans, and now it seems impossible to imagine this world without 50 Shades of Grey.

Source: Variety