With each passing day, Vancouver's film industry nets another fish.
Last week, it was World of Warcraft. On Wednesday, it was 50 Shades of Grey, which announced it would begin filming in VanCity – once adoringly known as Hollywood North – on Nov. 5, 2013.
(Production Weekly magazine broke the story, although CTV News reports it has yet to be confirmed by the studio said to be in charge, North Shore Studios.)
The news comes just one day after the film's two leads were announced. Sons of Anarchy and Undeclared star Charlie Hunnam will play Christian Grey, while Dakota Johnson (The Social Network, Ben and Kate) will play Anastasia Steele.
The film is, of course, based on E.L. James's wildly popular erotic novel (which turned into a trilogy). 50 Shades of Grey is one of the best-selling books of all-time (over 70,000,000 sales), as well as a cultural phenomenon.
50 Shades was blasted by both domestic violence groups and Christian groups for its vivid sexual scenes – and the controversy has no doubt contributed to its sales.
"Anything other than my husband creating arousal in me would be missing the mark of God's intention," wrote Christian author Dannah Gresh in 2012 (BuzzFeed). "I wouldn't drive my Envoy into the front of an oncoming semi-truck any more than I would open the pages of Fifty Shades of Grey."
------------------------------------------------------------
Dakota Johnson will play 50 Shades lead female Anastasia Steele:
Charlie Hunnam will play 50 Shades lead male Christian Grey: