Dakota Johnson’s experience filming the steamy phenomenon Fifty Shades of Grey was, by her own admission, quite unexpected. She once called the production of the popular erotic drama “crazy.” The film, based on E. L. James’ bestselling novel of the same name, featured Johnson as Anastasia Steele, a college student entangled with the enigmatic billionaire Christian Grey, played by Jamie Dornan. Fifty Shades of Grey‘s massive success in 2015 spawned two sequels: Fifty Shades Darker (2017) and Fifty Shades Freed (2018). Both sequels adhered to the storylines established in E. L. James’ subsequent novels.
Dakota Johnson Discussed Chaos Behind Fifty Shades of Grey Production
Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan in Fifty Shades of Grey (2015). Image Credit: Universal Pictures
Dakota Johnson has shared some behind-the-scenes chaos from the making of Fifty Shades of Grey, and it wasn’t related to co-star Jamie Dornan.
In a 2022 interview with Vanity Fair, Johnson recounted the filming process for the franchise as chaotic, partly due to the creative control exerted by the book’s author, E.L. James, whom she referred to as Erika.
“I’m a sexual person, and when I’m interested in something, I want to know so much about it,” Johnson said regarding her interest in the films. “That’s why I did those big naked movies.“
However, the 32-year-old actress mentioned that she “signed up to do a very different version of the film we ended up making,” attributing this to various internal factors, including James’ significant creative influence during production.
“It was always a battle,” Johnson noted. “Always.” The cast frequently filmed multiple takes of each scene, one to align with James’s vision and another for “the movie that we wanted to make.” This might prompt viewers to revisit the films and speculate which takes made the final cut.
Initially, Charlie Hunnam was cast as Christian Grey alongside Johnson, but he exited due to a scheduling conflict, leading to Jamie Dornan’s casting. Additionally, playwright Patrick Marber revised the script, but Johnson mentioned that James discarded Marber’s version.
“I was young. I was 23. So it was scary. It just became something crazy,” she reflected. “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 shared that during filming, they “did the takes of the movie that [author] Erika wanted to make, and then we would do the takes of the movie that we wanted to make.” She added, “The night before, I would rewrite scenes with the old dialogue so I could add a line here and there. It was like mayhem all the time.”
Despite the challenges, Johnson has no regrets about making the films: “I don’t think it’s a matter of regret. If I had known at the time that’s what it was going to be like, I don’t think anyone would’ve done it. It would’ve been like, ‘Oh, this is psychotic.’ But no, I don’t regret it.”
She also acknowledged that she was treated well as an actor and recognized the film’s success.
Fifty Shades Stars Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan to Reunite in London!
Dakota Johnson in Fifty Shades Darker (2017). Image Credit: Universal Pictures
Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan are set to reunite in London this summer, much to the delight of their fans who still cherish their roles in the Fifty Shades Of Grey franchise. Despite ongoing rumors suggesting a strained relationship during filming, the former co-stars actually hold deep affection for each other.
In a 2022 interview with Vanity Fair, Johnson clarified, “There was never a time when we didn’t get along.” She described Dornan as “like a brother to me,” emphasizing her strong bond with him and their mutual support during filming. “We had to really trust each other and protect each other,” she added.
Confirming their continued friendship, Dornan mentioned in a recent interview with Metro that he stays in touch with Johnson and plans to meet her in London this summer. “Yeah, I was texting with her a couple of days ago,” he shared. “She’s London bound a wee bit over the next few weeks, so I’m trying to see her and Chris for dinner.”
This reunion follows Johnson’s recent visit to Somerset to support her reported fiancé, Chris Martin, at a Coldplay concert with his children Moses and Apple, alongside his ex-wife Gwyneth Paltrow.
