Although the original movie was panned by critics and is up for several Razzie awards next month, it didn't stop it making a ridiculous amount of money at the box office. 

So naturally the producers have decided to go ahead and shoot the sequels, Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed back to back. 

There had been some controversy behind the scenes with author T.L. James insisting on coming on board as the screenwriter and original director Sam Taylor Johnson exiting the sequel as a result. Despite this, things look to be moving forward at a fast pace and now the news comes today that Kim Bassinger is joining the cast for the sequel in the key role of Elena Lincoln. 

Fans of the novels will know the Lincoln was the older friend of the Grey family who first seduced a young Christian (Jamie Dornan) and got him hooked on BDSM. Her role in the sequel seems to be as an antagonist for Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson) and a tug of war ensues between the two women for Christian's affections. 

The likes of Charlize Theron, Naomi Watts and Nicole Kidman had been rumoured for the role but Bassinger was the choice for the filmmakers which is quite fitting considering she was the queen of the erotic thriller in the 90s thanks to her turn in 9 1/2 Weeks.

Via Uproxx