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‘Fifty Shades Darker’ Adds Bassinger To Cast — See What Other Key Role Remains Open

By Ernie Howell
Published on: 07:09 PST, Jan 30, 2016

Fifty Shades Darker – the sequel to the widely successful 2015 Fifty Shades of Grey – is about to start filming, and a key role was just announced as being cast.

The role of Elena Lincoln will be played by Hollywood legend Kim Bassinger, Entertainment Weekly reported this week. Elena Lincoln is the much older woman who introduced Christian Grey to the world of BDSM. While they are no longer a couple, they are still involved in business together.

Kim Bassinger will begin filming her scenes for Fifty Shades Darker soon, many of which will involve Dakota Johnson returning to the role of Anastasia Steele. In Fifty Shades Darker the two are pitted against each other, trying to affirm their importance in Christian Grey’s life.

In addition to Kim Bassinger, other cast members for Fifty Shades Darker have already been confirmed, Variety reported. Luke Grimes, Eloise Mumford, and Max Martini are returning while behind-the-scenes members Michael De Luca, Dana Brunetti, and James and Marcus Viscidi will do the same.

E. L. James – author of Fifty Shades Darker – seems to approve of the casting of Kim Bassinger. After it was announced she took to her twitter account with a link to the news with the comment, “here you go :D”

Kim Bassinger is no stranger to appearing in steamy movies. Most notably, she starred in 9 ½ Weeks (1986) as an art gallery employee who has a brief but passionate affair with a Wall Street broker played by Mickey Rourke.

As for Dakota Johnson, she sat down with Celebuzz and talked about what it’s like to film her infamous sex scenes with Jamie Dornan who plays Christian Grey. Despite the fact she’s had an entire film to practice the intimate scenes, acting in the sequel Fifty Shades Darker is still daunting.

“It never is comfortable to be seen like that…because it’s not in a private, or intimate environment. It’s a lot of specific movement and choreography which is really interesting… It doesn’t ever get easy.”

While the sex scenes aren’t easy, stepping back into the role of Anastasia Steele in Fifty Shades Darker will be something Dakota Johnson is looking forward to. While Fifty Shades of Grey took its time introducing the characters and building their relationship, Fifty Shades Darker seeks to reveal how the two lovers can exist as a couple, Dakota Johnson said of the plot.

“I think it’s gonna be exciting…to go back and develop characters further. The story, is sort of like a thriller now. And it gets kinda scary. It’s awesome.”

In addition to the new character of Elena Lincoln, Fifty Shades Darker will also feature Leila Williams, a woman who was once one of Christian Grey’s subs. What seemed like a mutual parting of the ways between the two characters is now not so clean cut in Fifty Shades Darker. The role of Leila Williams has not yet been cast.

Fifty Shades of Grey was released over the Valentine’s Day weekend in 2015 and grossed over $560 million worldwide. It became the fourth highest grossing movie of 2015. Fifty Shades Darker is anticipating those same numbers. It will be released around Valentine’s Day, on February 10, 2017.

While Fifty Shades of Grey was directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, Fifty Shades Darker will have a new director in James Foley. Foley’s last film was 2007’s Perfect Stranger starring Halle Berry and Bruce Willis.

Fifty Shades Darker is looking to recreate the success of its predecessor while upping the ante on its content. Viewers expect more intrigue, more drama and – most likely – more sex in Fifty Shades Darker.

What do you think about the announcement Kim Bassinger is joining the Fifty Shades Darker cast? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.

[Photo by Dario Cantatore/Getty Images]

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