When people think of Fifty Shades, they think of blindfolds, whispered promises, and red rooms—not high-speed chases or gun-wielding stalkers. But believe it or not, in a now-deleted sequence originally filmed for Fifty Shades Freed, the franchise nearly took a wild detour into action-thriller territory.
And the most curious part? The scene was fully shot—stunts, effects, everything—then scrapped at the very last minute.
Wait… A Car Chase?
Yes. According to several former crew members and early leaked production notes, a car chase scene involving Anastasia Steele was originally planned to be a turning point in Fifty Shades Freed. The plot would have briefly shifted tone as Ana was followed—and eventually chased—by a shadowy figure connected to Jack Hyde, her stalker ex-boss.
The original idea? Give Ana more agency and intensity—portraying her as resourceful and brave, rather than always being protected. In this extended cut, Ana realizes she’s being followed while driving alone. What followed was a two-minute pulse-pounding sequence through downtown Seattle.
Dakota Johnson trained for it. A full stunt team was hired. Multiple cars were damaged. Thousands of dollars were spent.
And then… nothing.
Why Was It Cut?
The official explanation was “tone mismatch.” Test audiences apparently found the sequence jarring—too much of a departure from the sensual romance they were expecting.
But others say there’s more to the story.
One insider revealed that Jamie Dornan was never on set for the scene, even though Christian was originally scripted to appear midway through to help Ana. This caused timeline issues in the editing room.
Even stranger, the scene’s tone—dark alleys, screeching tires, and Ana holding a small weapon—felt more like a Jason Bourne spin-off than Fifty Shades.
Director James Foley was reportedly disappointed by the decision to cut it, especially after the team spent weeks coordinating the stunt work. In a now-deleted blog post from a stunt performer, the scene was described as “the most intense thing I’ve ever shot for a romance film.”
So where is it now?
The Missing Footage That Fans Keep Asking About
No footage of the chase has ever been released—not even as a deleted scene on Blu-ray. However, sharp-eyed fans noticed something strange in the trailer for Fifty Shades Freed: a quick flash of Ana turning the wheel sharply in a parking garage, a shot that never appeared in the final film.
Was that part of the missing chase?
Some say yes. Others believe more was filmed than fans will ever know. A few fan campaigns have even begged Universal Pictures to release a “thriller cut” of Freed—but the studio has remained silent.
A Missed Opportunity?
Many now argue that the scene could have reshaped Ana’s character, giving her more control and presence. Critics of the franchise often point out her passivity—this scene, had it stayed, might have silenced them.
And as for why it was truly cut? Some believe the franchise was afraid of veering too far from its image. Fifty Shades is about fantasy—not fear, not danger… even though the storyline has plenty of both.
Whatever the truth, this deleted chase sequence now lives in fandom legend: a glimpse of the Fifty Shades movie we almost got… and may never see.
