Universal Pictures and Focus Features announced that they will partner together in the development of a film based on E L James' #1 Bestseller, Fifty Shades of Grey. Focus Features will market and distribute the film adaptation of Fifty Shades of Grey in partnership with Universal Pictures.

Universal Pictures' Chairman Adam Fogelson and co-chairman Donna Langley exclaimed, "The Fifty Shades Trilogy is a one-of-a-kind series of stories and we're thrilled to be collaborating with E L James to bring them to the big screen...Like so many readers all over the globe, we've fallen in love with Fifty Shades of Grey. It's a special story and working with Focus, we hope to bring audiences a film they can enjoy as much as they loved the book."

James Schamus, CEO of Focus Features, added, "At its core, this is a romance of the most emotionally resonant, but delicate, order -- and we look forward to working with our colleagues at Universal to transform E L James' vision into a great film."

The book Fifty Shades of Grey follows the relationship of 27-year-old billionaire Christian Grey and college student Anastasia Steele. Subsequent novels in the series, Fifty Shades Darker (September 2011) and Fifty Shades Freed (January 2012) explore the couple's deepening relationship. The books have proved to be an international best seller since they came out. Fifty Shades of Grey is the #1 Bestselling trade paperback book according to the New York Times and Publishers Weekly. It's also the #1 Bestselling eBook with Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed taking the second and third spots respectively.