Fifty Shades Feud: What Really Happened Between Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan?

For over a decade now, speculations about the off-screen turmoil involving “Fifty Shades of Grey” have continued to grow in intensity since the term “fifty shades of f–ked up” became popular in public conversations.

Despite efforts to clarify the situation, there were long-standing rumors suggesting that actors Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan had conflicts during the filming of the 2015 movie, as well as its sequels, which were based on E.L. James’ novel. However, reflecting on those times, Dakota Johnson has revealed that the actual source of tension was primarily due to Erika Mitchell (the author’s real name) and the creative team’s challenges in finding a common ground.

In an interview with Vanity Fair in 2022, Johnson stated that there were numerous varying opinions during the filming process. “We’d shoot scenes according to Erika’s vision for the movie,” she explained, “and then we would shoot scenes based on our own vision.” Looking back, she acknowledged, “Had I known what it was going to entail, I don’t think anyone would have signed up. It would have seemed insane, like ‘This is madness.’

For about ten years now, whispers about the backstage turmoil of the film adaptation of “Fifty Shades of Grey” have grown increasingly loud.

Despite efforts made to clarify the situation, there were long-standing whispers that actors Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan had conflicts during the filming of the 2015 movie, as well as its sequels, which were all based on the novel by E.L. James. However, Dakota Johnson, who later starred in Madame Web, has since explained that the tension was actually due to Erika Mitchell (the author’s real name) and the creative team’s difficulties in reaching a consensus.

In a conversation with Vanity Fair in 2022, Johnson stated that there were numerous conflicting viewpoints. He explained that they’d shoot scenes according to Erika’s vision, followed by scenes based on our own perspective for the same movie.

Reflecting on the situation now, she confessed, “Had I known its true nature, I’m convinced no one would have taken it on. Instead, we might have all exclaimed, ‘This is utterly mad!’

But she has no regrets working on the films—after all, it bonded her for life with Dornan.

From the very beginning, our bond has always been unbreakable, almost as if he’s my kin. It might seem peculiar, but he holds a special place in my heart, one that knows no bounds. The love I have for him runs deep, so profoundly that it’s hard to find words to express. We’ve been through thick and thin together, standing by each other’s side. Our relationship demanded trust and loyalty, and we were always ready to shield and support one another.

Dornan has also defended his and Johnson’s work on the sexy saga amid ridicule from critics.

However, Dornan, who is married to Amelia Warner and has three daughters with her, strongly disagreed when the whole thing was dismissed as a mere joke during his interview with British GQ in 2021. He made it clear that everyone involved put in their utmost effort on those films, including himself.

Since the release of the last movie, “Fifty Shades Freed,” it’s become apparent that Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan have maintained a strong friendship with each other, along with their respective partners. For seven years now, Johnson has been in a relationship with Chris Martin from Coldplay.

But she has no regrets working on the films — after all, it bonded her for life with Dornan.

She mentioned that there has never been a moment of discord between us, she explained. Regarding Johnson, he feels more like a brother than just a friend to her, which may seem unusual. However, the depth of her affection for him is immense. They stood by each other in thick and thin, requiring an unwavering trust and mutual protection.

Dornan has also defended his and Johnson’s work on the sexy saga amid ridicule from critics.

However, Dornan strongly disagreed that the entire situation was merely a jest, as he shared with British GQ in 2021. He made it clear that everyone involved in the films put in their utmost effort, including himself.

Since the last movie in the Fifty Shades series, Fifty Shades Freed, was released, it’s been evident that the main star and Johnson have maintained a strong friendship with each other, as well as their partners. (Johnson has been in a relationship with Chris Martin of Coldplay for seven years.)

In an interview with the Metro in July of last year, Dornan mentioned that he had been texting with her recently. He also shared that she might be moving to London within the next few weeks, so he’s hoping to have dinner with both her and Chris.

As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but reminisce about the juiciest gossip that swirled around the costars’ dynamic – it was the talk of the town and still is! Looking back now, a full decade later, I find myself reflecting on those steaming behind-the-scenes rumors, fueled by my unwavering obsession.

Come into our playroom, these Fifty Shades of Grey secrets will see you now…

Back in June 2012, I, a fervent admirer, boldly declared through the realm of Twitter, “I’m throwing my hat into the ring to pen the cinematic interpretation of ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’…” And let me tell you, that wasn’t just an idle fancy; I passionately advocated for this opportunity by tweeting and speaking to anyone who would listen about my desire to bring E.L. James’ novel to life on the silver screen.

Later on, Ellis shared with Vanity Fair that he read the book out of simple curiosity. Had it not been so popular, he might have passed on it. However, as he delved deeper, he found that the writing wasn’t up to par and the book itself wasn’t great. But, he thought, this story has real potential and could make an excellent film.

Instead, Universal’s Focus Features opted for screenwriter Kelly Marcel, known for her work on the film “Saving Mr. Banks” about Walt Disney’s efforts to convince P.L. Travers, the author of Mary Poppins, to allow a movie adaptation of her magical nanny character. Later in October 2013, Mark Bomback, who had previously worked on “The Wolverine,” was called upon to refine the script for “Fifty Shades.

In his conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Bomback shared that he had never before been involved in a project with such an enigmatic atmosphere. The location was under tight security, and he found it absolutely captivating.

In June 2012, Bret Easton Ellis, the author of American Psycho, openly expressed his intention to write a movie adaptation of “Fifty Shades of Grey” on Twitter. He was serious about it and actively campaigned for the opportunity through social media, making clear to anyone who would listen that he aimed to bring E.L. James’ book to the big screen.

In an interview with Vanity Fair, Ellis admitted that his initial interest in the book was piqued by curiosity. He further added that if the book hadn’t been such a popular sensation, he might not have read it. Upon reading, he found that the writing wasn’t exceptional and the book itself wasn’t particularly good. However, he recognized that it contained a strong storyline, one that could translate well into a captivating movie.

Instead, Universal’s Focus Features opted for Kelly Marcel, known for her work on the screenplay for ‘Saving Mr. Banks’, which delves into Walt Disney’s endeavor to persuade P.L. Travers, the author of ‘Mary Poppins’, to grant him the rights to create a film about her enchanting nanny character. Later in October 2013, Mark Bomback, who had previously worked on ‘The Wolverine’ script, was recruited to refine the screenplay for ‘Fifty Shades’.

Later on, in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Bomback shared his feelings about working on a project that was incredibly secretive. He described the set as being under tight security, and he found it all quite intriguing.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d say: Whispers about the potential cast for Christian and Ana circulated widely, with Matt Bomer feeling honored yet Emma Watson remaining uninterested; Taylor-Johnson yearned for Robert Pattinson. However, it was Charlie Hunnam who genuinely had his sights set on making this film his next major endeavor following the end of “Sons of Anarchy”.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly in October 2013, the British actor admitted that there are numerous fans of that book, and he acknowledged that he might not match the expectations everyone had. He explained this because reading is such a personal experience, and people tend to visualize characters differently, making them feel a sense of ownership over those characters.

He commented, “It could be overwhelming if I delve too deeply into it. I’m giving it my utmost attention and aim to understand the depths of this character, his drives, and his personality. Additionally, I want to ensure that I look sharp and stylish in those suits.

Some time passed, and he ultimately parted ways with the project, allegedly because of artistic disagreements with the production crew, which included Taylor-Johnson, as well as doubts about whether this was the best professional decision for him.

A variety of young actresses such as Shailene Woodley, Elizabeth Olsen, Alicia Vikander, and Felicity Jones were reportedly being considered for a certain role, but eventually, Dakota Johnson secured it and managed to hold onto it afterwards.

In simpler terms, De Luca expressed to TopMob News that she’s just like Anastasia Steele in her role. He considers her an ideal collaborator for a producer. He referred to Johnson as “our foundation”. Furthermore, he mentioned that the actress plays a crucial part in evaluating potential actors to play Christian, helping them identify which pairings spark our interest.

Approximately two weeks following Hunnam’s departure, it was officially confirmed that Jamie Dornan had joined the project. A source revealed to TopMob News that the actor from Belfast, who was then well-known for his role in ABC’s “Once Upon a Time,” delivered an impressive audition. Regarding his chemistry with the leading lady, the studio expressed confidence in Dakota’s abilities, stating that she could handle any actor chosen to play the male lead.

“I’m sure he’ll do a great job,” Hunnam told TMZ in passing.

The initial plan was to begin filming in November; however, due to finalizing the cast, the main shooting has been delayed by a month.

Filming began on December 2, 2013, as Vancouver, British Columbia, was used as a stand-in for Seattle.

The scheduled release date remains unchanged, and we plan to carry on with our work. It’s worth noting that the film’s initial release date, previously set for August 1, 2014, was later adjusted to February 13, 2015. This change occurred in October.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d rephrase that sentence like this: When I was cast as Christian, my lovely wife Amelia Warner was around eight months pregnant with our first child. Despite the timing, she bravely uprooted and moved to Vancouver. It was in this vibrant city where our beautiful daughter, Dulcie, entered our world on November 21, 2013.

Later on, Taylor-Johnson mentioned that Jamie welcomed a newborn baby during the initial week of filming, as he shared with Vanity Fair.

In an effort to ensure a comfortable environment for both Johnson and Dornan during our intimate scenes, I aimed to minimize the number of people present on set as much as feasible.

The director expressed that he preferred not to require either Dakota or Jamie to reshoot such specific scenes again, according to what they shared with Vanity Fair.

The set was private, preventing our presence during those intensely personal scenes, which are crucial to the movie’s narrative. Although we were confined to our trailers, the actors were equipped with microphones, and we had headphones to listen in. However, I felt a strange sense of embarrassment while eavesdropping, so we all chose to stop listening,” producer De Luca described.

In another phrasing, James was insistent on having most of the scenes play out just as she had scripted them. On the other hand, Taylor-Johnson emphasized capturing “intricate details such as hands, skin, eyes, and expressions.” She believed that revealing too much would strip away the mystery. Although there is a lot shown, it does not require viewing anything explicit or graphic.

Initially, the first trailer was destined to become popular regardless, but having a slower rendition of Beyoncé’s “Crazy in Love” adding atmosphere certainly didn’t harm its appeal.

As a devoted admirer, I confidently recognize the lyrics of ‘Crazy in Love’, but I had anticipated that her rendition might differ. It turns out to be more exposed and enchanting, as falling in love can drive one to do the most extraordinary things. Hearing the emotional tone transformed and inverted only amplifies its impact.

Ellie Goulding’s song “Love Me Like You Do,” written exclusively for this soundtrack, garnered nominations for two Grammys and a Golden Globe. However, The Weeknd’s “Earned It” secured the Oscar nomination, eventually losing to Sam Smith’s “Writing’s on the Wall” from Spectre, which claimed the award in its category.

Who wants a fantasy when you could have feud rumors?

At the London premiere of ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’, Dornan told TopMob News, ‘People will claim things because it’s a movie and there’s always some excitement built leading up to it. It’s an understandable storyline to speculate about, especially if I were into the realm of inventing false stories, I might even do so on a blog.’

He promptly responded, “I’d never transform into such an individual, yet I comprehend it. It leaves a hint of something or other.

The feedback varied from moderate to mercilessly critical to downright funny, but the film became a massive hit, grossing an impressive $570 million globally on a production budget of just $40 million. The subsequent films, both helmed by James Foley, earned $381 million and $372 million respectively at the box office.

Until 2017, when Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman earned $103 million at its U.S. opening, the $85 million opening weekend it held was the highest ever for a female director.

Taylor-Johnson chose not to rejoin the series, partially because of her creative differences with James. He held significant control over the project and even brought in his own spouse, Niall Leonard, to scriptwrite for the sequels titled “Fifty Shades Darker” and “Fifty Shades Freed”.

2015 saw me reminiscing to Porter magazine about the lively debates we had on set. I’m not one for conflict, but it was all part of striking a balance between realizing her written vision and my own need to breathe life into the character on screen.

In 2015, she shared with The Hollywood Reporter that James acknowledged the struggle himself, stating, “It wasn’t easy. It really wasn’t easy. But we made it through. I believe both of us felt it was a very difficult journey.” On MSNBC, James expressed that people will inevitably clash, and this is exactly what transpired in our situation.

2017 interview with the Sunday Times magazine saw Taylor-Johnson expressing no regrets about making the film, but adding, “If I were to regret it, that would be my downfall. Looking back now, would I choose to go through it again? Absolutely not. I’d have to be crazy to do so.

She added, “I find myself liking everyone, and it leaves me puzzled when they don’t reciprocate my feelings. I was baffled by EL James. It confuses me when I can’t connect with someone, when there’s no mutual understanding or harmony.

2025-02-14 07:22

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