50 Shades of Grey Movie: Angelina Jolie, Channing Tatum, and 11 Other Potential Directors

50 Shades of Grey may be the next big Academy Award winner.

Soderberg just directed Magic Mike, the movie about male strippers, proving he knows how to package nudity more seriously. With movies such as Ocean’s Eleven and Erin Brockovich under his belt, Soderberg can create quality yet accessible films.

Tatum has said he wants to start directing. I think Tatum is such an underrated talent; he wowed me with his acting and dancing skills in Magic Mike. I wouldn’t be surprised if he had directorial vision as well.

The director of Pretty Woman is more well-suited to romantic comedies, but was reportedly considered in early talks for the film.

Cassavetes directed The Notebook, so he’s got romance down pat. He also directed Alpha Dog, the drug drama based on a real-life story, proving that he can handle grit and romance.

The director of two Bourne movies is now working on Captain Phillips with De Luca and Brunetti. Greengrass often dramatizes real-life events, which would give the film the grittiness and accessibility that makes the books so popular. (He is also known for using a shaky camera. Hmm.)

Having worked closely with 50 Shades of Grey producers, Ross may be a strong pick. He recently showed his ability to balance violence with tenderness in The Hunger Games. 

9) Robert Luketic

50 Shades of Grey was originally Twilight fanfiction, so the director of the first Twilight film may be well-suited to adapting the adult novel.

The director of indie teen flick Juno would give 50 Shades of Grey a hipster, off-beat vibe.