Gus Van Sant made "Promised Land" last year for Focus Features, and the Oscar-nominated director might reunite with the studio for its upcoming adaptation of "Fifty Shades of Grey." TheWrap reports that Van Sant shot test footage of a sex scene last weekend with Alex Pettyfer playing "Fifty Shades" lead and S&M aficcionado Christian Grey.
Lest fans think Van Sant isn't committed to the idea of directing the adaptation of E L James' best-selling sex novel, TheWrap notes that the scene Van Sant shot was the moment when female lead Anastasia Steele loses her virginity to Christian. Van Sant previously directed "Good Will Hunting" and "Milk."
Pettyfer is used to showing off his body onscreen: he was a co-star in last year's "Magic Mike" and has the lead in Universal's upcoming remake of "Endless Love." Per TheWrap, Pettyfer wouldn't play Grey in the "50 Shades of Grey" movie, despite his appearance in the test footage. No word yet on which actress played Steele, but the role is one of the most coveted in Hollywood at the moment. Actresses from Emma Watson to Mila Kunis to "Girls" star Allison Williams have been mentioned as possibilities for the part, though no one is cast as of yet. Watson, for her part, vociferously denied a report that she was playing the role via Twitter last month.
If Van Sant grabs the "Fifty Shades of Grey" director's gig, it would be one of his highest profile positions to date. Universal and Focus Features spent more than $3 million to option James' novel, and the studios plan to adapt all three "50 Shades" novels to the big screen. Previously, Angelina Jolie was a rumored pick for the "Fifty Shades of Grey" job, but that speculation proved unfounded.
For more on Van Sant, hit TheWrap.
[via TheWrap]
