Many see it as a "compromise" to appease James after she demanded more control over the movie and wanted to write it herself, but Langley defends their decision to hire Leonard.

"He actually did a draft that wasn't credited on the first movie, and he did a really good job," hollywoodreporter.com quoted Langley as saying.

Poll

Who will win the Punjab Elections?

BJP 32.86%

AAP 41.43%

INC 25.71%

Submit

View All In Poll

James clashed with director Sam Taylor-Johnson on many aspects of the first movie including the ending. The film ended up getting panned by critics despite its commercial success.

"For the record, the movie we ended up making is exactly the movie I wanted to make and that the studio wanted to make and that our director wanted to make," Langley said.

"Fifty Shades Darker" will be released on February 10, 2017 and the third one "Fifty Shades Freed" will follow on February 9, 2018.

Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson are expected to reprise their roles as Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele respectively. Taylor-Johnson won't return as a director.