‘Fifty Shades of Grey,’ the TV show? It was at least discussed
Here is a story that we probably never envisioned writing: For a brief period of time, there was an offer on the table to actually turn “Fifty Shades of Grey” into a TV series rather than a feature film saga that it is going to be moving forward. The other interesting thing about this is that we actually feel like it could have been a better idea in the end.
Speaking at the Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour today, Starz head Chris Albrecht made it clear that he had wanted to take the franchise and turn it into the books badly enough that he was willing to make an unheard-of commitment for the franchise. In a conversation about his upcoming show “Outlander” for the network, he said the following:
“I’m the guy who called up Universal and said, ‘I’ll get you three years on the air as a series. Let’s just do a Fifty Shades of Grey series. But movie people think things are movies, and authors think things are movies. Up until recently, movies were the Tiffany jewel in the crown.”
The reason that we feel like this actually could have fared better as a TV show is simply that it gives you a chance to tell a greater depth of story. Not only that, but you probably could have gotten Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan for Anastasia and Christian Grey, anyway, and you would have had zero limitations whatsoever when it comes to the sort of content you put on the show. This would have been for Starz what “The Walking Dead” was for AMC; even though there were hits before, it would have exploded them outward and made them a serious player.
But alas, it was not to be … even though the idea of it is still interesting to think about. With “Game of Thrones” proving how great book adaptations can be in this medium, we do see more of this happening in the future.
Do you think that “Fifty Shades of Grey” really could have made a decent TV show, or is this really all just Starz blowing smoke now to get headlines about their other series? Share below, and head over here to get some TV updates sent right to you every Sunday.
Photo: Starz