It is only natural for someone who works hard to want or even demand for his or her salary to increase, so it is not surprising to hear that the actors of 'Fifty Shades of Grey' want more than what they were originally paid for in the sequel.
According to an article by The Hollywood Reporter (via Cinema Blend), titular stars Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson are seeking to get larger compensation in returning for the sequel, 'Fifty Shades Darker.' The report also states that the salary that both actors are hoping to get would be somewhere in the seven-figure range, given that each of them received $250,000, as well as some box-office bonuses. They did not, however, receive any backend compensation whatsoever.
It is not difficult to justify both of the actors' demands, given how much success 'Fifty Shades of Grey' has achieved at the box office. The movie currently stands as the highest grossing film of 2015, with more than $528 million in gross earnings worldwide. While the movie was a bit of a letdown in terms of income when compared to its literary counterpart, its popularity is still flourishing, with the numbers making a statement for just how phenomenal this big screen adaptation has become.
Looking at some of the successful movie franchises such as 'Twilight' and the 'Hunger Games,' Dornan and Johnson landing a bigger payday for returning to the sequel may not be too far from what could happen. Jennifer Lawrence, who starred in the title role of 'Hunger Games,' started out with a $500,000 salary; but by the time she appeared in 'Catching Fire,' Lawrence was reported to have received $10 million.
In spite of the film's impressive performance at the box office, there are still those who are not convinced that 'Fifty Shades of Grey' could sustain its popularity on the big screen. Like the book, the film's popularity is mainly attributed to the "morbid" curiosity aroused in its viewers by its irregular BDSM antics. There is also the fact that the sequel currently has no director, as Sam Taylor-Johnson, who directed the first film, left the project due to having issues with the book's writer, E.L. James, during the first film's production.
Whether or not the succeeding films of the Fifty Shades franchise will continue the success experienced by the first one, it is still likely that both Johnson and Dornan will receive increased compensation for returning to their roles. After all, displaying something like what they have done on the big screen is not something that many actors can do.
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