The release of EL James’s Grey, a re-telling of the first story but told exclusively through Christian Grey’s perspective, kickstarted speculation that Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson could return for that, too.
However the book’s sales figures are in and it might just dash any hopes of a big-screen reprise.
Despite confidently topping the best-seller lists, the Bookseller reports that Grey sold 85,000 copies in its first week.
Whilst a very impressive number in its own right, it’s notable that it’s a long, long way down on the 385,972 sold in one week by the series at its peak.
Back in 2012, the series sold over 10 million copies and spent a combined 22 weeks at No1, indicating that Fifty Shades Fever may be slowing – or at least that fans will need more than just a retelling of the same story to keep them invested.
Still, at least one of the film’s cast members has said she’s up for filming a fourth.
Marcia Gay Harden, who plays Christian’s mother on the big screen, said earlier this year: “I’m trying to now think about, ‘What would Christian’s point of view be. Would mom even be in it?’
“She rescued him. She was a doctor, she rescued him… I don’t know.
“Would I be in it? Yeah, sure. I’m game.”
For now, Fifty Shades Freed – which is, as it stands, the final film in the franchise – is poised for release early next year, having unveiled its full trailer last month.
Fifty Shades Freed is out on February 9, 2018.