50 Shades of Grey Screenwriter Kelly Marcel Says the Movie Will be Very Raunchy

Posted on January 8, 2013

So many screenwriters wanted the gig to write the 50 Shades of Grey screenplay, but British writer Kelly Marcel landed the job after an interview with the book's author, E.L. James. In an interview with The Sunday Times, Marcel talks about landing the job, Bret Easton Ellis' fury that he didn't get the job and how racy the movie will actually be.

Marcel was chosen for the job by E.L. James herself, and that did not sit well with Bret Easton Ellis who tweeted, "Kelly Marcel?!? KELLY MARCEL?!? Kelly Marcel is WRITING the script for 'Fifty Shades of Grey'?!? THIS is the movie they want to make? ARGH. Kelly Marcel: the creator of (gulp) 'Terra Nova' and a Mary Poppins bio-pic has been blessed by EL James and no one can stop her. Dear God."

Marcel was unmoved by Ellis' outburst -- she says he called an apologized to her later. And she says he's a genius. Marcel says it took her seven years to break into screenwriting (she was an actress before that). She splits her time between London and Los Angeles: the commute and long hours working led to the end of her engagement.

So how racy will the movie be? Marcel says it will be NC-17, which is surprising, considering how that will reduce box office receipts. Still, it's the kind of movie that will be difficult to make with a more audience-friendly rating. Marcel says, "Well, there is going to be a lot of sex in the film. It will be rated NC-17...It's going to be raunchy....We are 100% going there." She says that she and E.L. James went through the book and picked their favorite scenes, leaving some out.

The reporter for The Times asked her if she was going to delve into the world of domination and submission. Marcel replied, "I don't have a BDSM research schedule planned, but I like to immerse myself in the worlds I write about, so I will definitely be looking into all of it."