As you're likely well-aware by now, Fifty Shades of Grey author E.L. James is a HUGE Twi-Hard. It was after she read Stephenie Meyers' Twilight series that she was inspired to write her own fan fiction -- originally called Master of the Universe -- based on the Twilight characters and originally given the same names. Once the story morphed into Fifty, she changed the title, names, and some other details, too. For that reason, there's been recent speculation that there could be copyright issues once the first novel makes it way to the big screen.
Agh! Say it isn't so! Could one of the most anticipated flicks of this decade really be in danger due to a sticky legal question?
Long story short -- those of us who are greatly anticipating the softcore porn sexy adaptation can breathe a sigh of relief, because legal experts say there shouldn't be a problem. If there was going to be, it would have happened already with the books!
I'm just not seeing how anyone could think James' story -- in novel and/or film form -- could be seen as too similar to Twilight for it to stand on its own. Also, does no one recall that there have been many books written and films made that are based on or inspired by another original work? Like how Clueless is Amy Heckerling's take on Jane Austen's Emma? And Bridget Jones' Diary is Pride & Prejudice? When you think in terms of such "re-imagined" stories, Fifty Shades of Grey is even more different from Twilight than you might think.
In many ways, it's like 180 degrees from Meyer's abstinence-lovin' books, as it's basically an antidote for sex-starved fans of Twilight! Heck, sex-starved people period! James' amateur-ish writing may be a pain in the butt to get through at times, but with the BDSM-flavored concept, she hit the nail on the head. There hasn't been anything in the zeitgeist this steamy for a long time. We were due for it. So fingers crossed it makes its way to the silver screen with nary a legal squeak.
Do you think Fifty Shades of Grey is too similar to Twilight?
Image via Summit Entertainment
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Comments 40
No They are different series but both amazing!!! These are two different series that I pick up and read multiple times.
I'm another reader of both series and have read both of them many times. Plus seen all the Twilight movies. I agree with Charlotte on this one. There are huge differences between these Characters. To me she only originially named the characters Bella and Edward because of of her love for the Twilight series. Heck, I named a newest dog Bella (her AKC name is Bella Breaking Dawn). The only similarity other then the names and general description of Ana's appearance is the fact that Ana and/or Bella fell in love with a rich guy she really doesn't feel worth of having. Story lines and back history are no where even close to being related. I do however believe that the books have piggy backed off of the success of Twilight. All of us Twi-Moms who are hungry for more of a grown up story about Bella and Edward (ex: all the hype about wanting Breaking Dawn to be rated R because they finally have sex) have just flocked to the 50 Shades series because it is Twilight fan fiction. But I'm also so tired of hearing about how bad EL James' writing is. It's not a literary work of genius like the classics, but it's entertaining and that's what it was written to be. Get over the darn "Red Pen" syndrome and just lose yourself in the story.
I read both Twilight Saga (all the way through More times than I can count) and All the "Grey" books (once). Would read TS again. Not GREY. Just boring :-P