Between Fifty Shades of Grey and Darker, Dakota Johnson went radio silent. She skipped interviews and reportedly clashed with producers about creative control. But the drama behind the scenes was worse than fans imagined.
Universal allegedly began screen-testing other actresses as a precaution—something Johnson didn’t discover until months later. “I heard whispers on set,” she said years later. “I was scared. They never told me directly.”
The tests reportedly included names like Emilia Clarke and even Shailene Woodley. Behind closed doors, Universal execs debated whether Johnson’s strong opinions about the script were creating too much friction. Some felt she was difficult; others defended her artistic integrity.
It wasn’t until Jamie Dornan caught wind of the plan that things shifted. “He pulled rank,” a crew member revealed. “He told them he signed up to work with Dakota—not a stranger.”
The decision was never finalized, and Jamie Dornan threatened to walk if she was replaced. In the end, Dakota stayed—but the betrayal changed her relationship with the studio forever.
