50 Shades of Grey film to be released on Valentine's Day 2015

The Fifty Shades of Grey film release date has been pushed back from summer 2014 to spring 2015 as the first image of Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan goes on show

Jamie Dornan (L) and Dakota Johnson (R) will star in the 50 Shades of Grey film 

By Alice Vincent, Entertainment writer

The Telegraph - 13 Nov 2013

The Fifty Shades of Grey film will be released later than first planned; moving from the initial August 1 2014 date to Valentine's Day weekend 2015.

The move cements rumours that the film's production had been delayed by British actor Charlie Hunnam's departure from the project shortly after it was announced that he would play the central role of Christian Grey. Hunnam has since been replaced by Northern Irish actor Jamie Dornan, known for his performance in BBC Two's The Fall.

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Dornan's arrival pushed production back by a month. However, as Entertainment Weekly reports, the delay in release has more to do with branding and box office sales than practicality: by bringing it out over the Valentine's Day weekend, Universal Pictures are hopeful that Fifty Shades of Grey will be seen as a date film, rather than a summer chick flick. The magazine also revealed the first picture of Dornan and Dakota Johnson, the actress playing Anastasia Steele, on its cover. 
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