During this year’s Valentine’s season, Fifty Shades Darker is one of the films chosen by American audiences and many other countries when released in theaters. The film is part 2 in the 50 Shades series, telling the love story between an ordinary girl named Anastasia Steele and the almost perfect billionaire Christian Grey. With the previous part – Fifty Shades of Grey – fans of the novel version felt quite satisfied when the film did not change too much compared to the story. Coming to Fifty Shades Darker, fans will surely be even more satisfied because the film’s script was crafted by the author EL James’ husband – Niall Leonard.
According to some viewers, the film adapted the content quite closely to the original. There are even many dialogues in the book that were copied exactly to the screen. However, the film version always has certain changes compared to the novel. Fifty Shades Darker is no exception. Below are the 7 biggest changes in this part 2 that for some “crazy” fans of the Fifty Shades novel, it may be difficult to accept.
1. Dr. Flynn does not appear in Fifty Shades Darker
One very surprising thing is that EL James agreed to remove the character of Dr. Flynn – Christian Grey’s psychiatrist. According to the original, Dr. Flynn was the one who appeared at the charity party and took the initiative to pull Ana onto the dance floor. Not only that, he was also the one who answered Ana’s questions about Christian. The film version of Fifty Shades Darker did not mention that intimate conversation between the two of them. More importantly, John Flynn was completely “missing”.
Hugh Dancy – who was rumored to be joining Fifty Shades Darker as Dr. Flynn
Last year, major news sites like Variety reported that actor Hugh Dancy had accepted the role of Dr. Flynn. Just Jared even took pictures of Hugh Dancy in Vancouver – the main filming location of Fifty Shades Darker. However, in January 2017, Hugh Dancy announced that he would not be participating in this film project. Along with that, the character John Flynn was also absent.
2. There are fewer “hot” scenes than you might imagine.
Hot scenes are one of the factors that make audiences spend money to buy tickets to see the Fifty Shades series. In the book, these scenes take up a lot of time. However, when adapted into a movie, the producers are forced to moderate the sensitive scenes to a certain extent. Some hot scenes involving ice cream, sex scenes on a yacht, and on a billiard table between the two main characters were mercilessly cut.
If these scenes were kept, the producers would surely have a headache if the US Film Bureau refused to give them an R rating. However, Fifty Shades fans would be more satisfied because they would not have to read the story and imagine it, but could be excited to “witness it with their own eyes”.
3. The opening of Fifty Shades Darker was also changed.
In the film, Christian and Ana meet again at José’s exhibition. Afterwards, the billionaire takes Ana out to dinner and begs for her forgiveness. However, in the book, the scene where Christian asks Ana to come back to him happens much earlier than in the film.
Accordingly, Christian emailed Ana and asked if he could take her to José’s exhibition. Ana agreed and enjoyed the moment in a luxury car and helicopter with her dream lover. Not only that, they also talked seriously about their relationship.
What’s the most important thing about this scene that you missed if you didn’t read the book? It’s the passionate kiss between Ana and Christian as they leave the exhibition together.
4. Ethan “holds hands” with Dr. Flynn and disappears from Fifty Shades Darker
In the book version, Kate’s brother – Ethan – was with Ana and was an important factor in Leila’s story. Notably, Ethan also appeared on the night Leila pointed a gun at Ana. Afterwards, Ana went out and drank with Ethan to clarify everything that had just happened. Therefore, Christian was not happy about his girlfriend being with another man.
Christian’s rage was the only detail that remained throughout the film. Because Ethan “held hands” with Dr. Flynn and left Fifty Shades Darker, some scenes where he was supposed to appear were also changed. The gunpoint scene was changed to: Ana quietly walking in the rain and almost getting shot by Leila. She was also sober and not drunk when she got home. However, Christian still felt dissatisfied with Ana!
5. At the party, the dance auction was cut.
The charity party is where many of the “big names” of Fifty Shades gather, such as: Dr. Flynn, Christian’s grandparents, Mia’s friends. However, that’s only in the novel, and the film version only focuses on the characters that the audience has been familiar with before. Speaking of content, the most typical detail at the charity party was cut: the film did not put the dance auction scene on screen. In the novel, Christian spent a huge amount of money to auction the dance with Ana.
In addition, the dialogue between Ana and Elena (Mrs. Robinson) was changed in the film. In the novel, Elena told Ana that it was best that she not hurt Christian again. In the film version, Elena told Ana that she could not change Christian and that what he “needed”, Ana could not “fulfill”. The whole “ambiguous” process of Mrs. Robinson in the book was also mercilessly cut.
6. The much-anticipated proposal scene was also changed to an ambiguous one.
In the film version of Fifty Shades Darker, Christian proposes to Ana after she wakes him up from a nightmare. Christian then quickly falls back asleep. By the next morning, Ana is unsure whether Christian remembers the proposal and whether he really means it.
In the book, the proposal scene takes place when Ana and Christian are arguing about Leila. They are both in a state of consciousness, not half-conscious. Not only that, Christian also takes Ana to the villa that he bought specifically for the two of them.
However, there is one thing in common between these two scenes: Ana agrees to marry Christian when she holds the key to the villa in her hand!
7. Kate is the most obscure character in the movie.
In the book, Ana explains to Kate about her relationship with Christian after Kate reads an email exchange between her best friend and the billionaire. Ana even tells Kate about the terms of the “love” contract she negotiated with Christian. But in the film, screenwriter Niall keeps Kate “innocent and innocent”. She is completely unaware of the contract Ana signed. Once again, the film version of Kate is limited in her participation in the so-called feedback and consideration process.
