Floggers are for closers, apparently. According to Deadline, James Foley, director of Glengarry Glen Ross—and Fear, and the “Papa Don’t Preach” video, and 12 episodes of House Of Cards—is “the clear frontrunner” to direct the next installment in the Fifty Shades Of Grey series, Fifty Shades Darker.
Universal has chosen Foley from a “small group of filmmakers” on its short list to replace outgoing director Sam Taylor-Johnson, a list that also reportedly included Electrick Children’s Rebecca Thomas, The Mothman Prophecies’ Mark Pellington, and Hysteria’s Tanya Wexler. Negotiations, which we assume will take place over sushi, have yet to formally begin. But if Foley does take the job, he could end up directing the third installment in the series, Fifty Shades Freed, as well. The studio is reportedly considering shooting the sequels back to back, reinforcing Universal’s commitment to A-B-C (Always Be Cropping).