50 Shades of Grey movie update!

Director Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting) is throwing his hat in the ring as possible director of the upcoming 50 Shades of Grey movie adaptation. Reports indicate Van Sant recently shot a test reel of a sex scene from 50 Shades of Grey. Hoping to win the directing gig, Van Sant teamed up with Magic Mike star Alex Pettyfer, who played Christian Grey in the scene, as a bid to win over Universal and Focus, the two studios behind the 50 Shades movie (TheWrap). Sources say the scene Van Sant shot with Pettyfer shows an innocent Anastasia Steele losing her virginity to a seductive Grey. There's still no word on who played Ana in the scene.

Though Pettyfer has not been linked to possible cast candidates, you'd have to think if Universal and Focus liked what they saw in the scene, he'd have to at least be considered. Pettyfer already has ties with Universal, starring in the studio's upcoming Endless Love remake.

Most of the speculation surrounding the 50 Shades of Grey movie focuses on possible cast members, namely Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele. If Van Sant submitted the unsolicited scene, somewhat randomly, could that mean a lot of directors are excited to take on the job? It's hard to imagine a more prestigious director than Van Sant wanting to take the gig. I'm personally surprised the same director that delivered films like Milk and Promised Land [both Universal films] would want to get within a hundred feet of the raunchy films.