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'50 Shades of Grey' Movie May Be Killed by 'Twilight'

by Maressa Brown on July 3, 2012 at 2:14 PM

bella edward twilight 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

Filed Under: fifty shades of grey, twilight

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-- Nonmember comment from
Daisy

July 3, 2012 at 2:30 PM

In order to make money off of 50 Shades without running into copyright issues , EL James had to certify it was "substantially different" than Masters of the Universe, which she did. Unfortunately for her integrity, 50 Shades & Masters of the Universe are 89% the same when run through plagiarism software....so no, the movie shouldn't be made and the book should never have been published for profit.
-- Facebook comment from
Elizabeth Gronewald

July 3, 2012 at 2:55 PM

The difference is that the works above are public domain. Twilight is not. If she cannot pass the plagiarism software test, it is obviously nor an original work. I could have read this drivel for free as MOTU.
-- Nonmember comment from
Caitlin Knight

July 3, 2012 at 4:25 PM

Ok let's say this plagiarism test is right in the math......fine but as the arrival already stated, what best seller or motion picture isn't? Can anyone seriously think of a year when there wasn't some Romeo and Juliet love story? Or a year where a film didn't come out where someone had to save their family? People are just that.....human and unfortunately we will be hard pressed to find someone with a COMPLETELY ORIGINAL story. The point is that the people you have actually read both twilight and fifty shades will tell you ... No they are not the same. This is a "big city" setting and two "grown Ups" who finally find that missing link in there mundane lives. This is real life people and this might actually be happening. The psychology that has gone into the creation of these characters are possible and shows the non- prudes of the world that it's ok to be yourself. The movies should be made, because, let's be honest, when was the last time we saw something like this and thought "yeah I think that's somebody's life". And just a side note.... If you think you are better than the people that read these books and think your opinion matters because you read an article and "they said", you should really have the self respect to read it for yourself and shut up until you do.
-- Facebook comment from
Kristin McShane

July 3, 2012 at 5:36 PM

When I first read the book I had no idea it was orginally twilight fanfiction and it was obvious to me that she was inspired by Twilight. The characters have the same physical characteristics and everything about Ana is blatantly Bella.
-- Facebook comment from
Elizabeth Gronewald

July 3, 2012 at 6:38 PM

Also, if I could have basically read this for free when it was online as a Twilight fanfiction, why should I pay for it now when only 11% was changed? The fanfiction was built upon Meyers' characters. James did not create her own characters. She merely tweaked them to fit her settings. The psychological work for these characters was done by Meters, not James.
-- Facebook comment from
Elizabeth Gronewald

July 3, 2012 at 6:39 PM

Wow, it did not upload my previous comment...
-- Facebook comment from
Elizabeth Gronewald

July 3, 2012 at 6:44 PM

MOTU was put against Fifty Shades of Grey in the plagiarism software test. The results were 89%. So James only changed 11% of her fanfiction based off of Stephanie Meyers' characters to publish her "original" story. It does not have to be completely original, but James basically used Meyers' characters in her setting and changed only a few things. She did not do a majority of the character development if she used Edward and Bella's molds and changed the names.
-- Facebook comment from
Elizabeth Gronewald

July 3, 2012 at 6:49 PM

Her story would have been more of an original story if she had not published MOTU online in the Twilight community, where it was free to read, and actually put some effort into developing her characters instead of having to tweak them so she could springboard off of Stephanie Meyers' success. Changing names, a few lines, and actions do not make the lazy stealing of characters from another author okay. The reason why Ana and Christian are so similar to Edward and Bella is because she used the drawing board for these characters to make Ana and Christian.
--
LokisMama

July 3, 2012 at 6:54 PM

With as much ranting and raving as authors do about fan fiction writers, are we really surprised that there's a copywrite issue? How she got that poorly written fan-fiction published is beyond me. Apparently editors no longer edit and the only way to get a book published is to appeal to the semi-illiterate.

(And for the record, I've read both series. It was all I could do not to attack 50 Shades with a red pen)
-- Nonmember comment from
Claire

July 4, 2012 at 5:22 AM

Well, I've finally borrowed a copy of Fifty shades and have to say, Ana is a much better character than Bella who is simply THE most irritating remale lead Ive ever read about. So irritating I haven't bothered with the films. I also think Fifty shades is pretty dire mind,I agree with the "red pen" comment but then I have read "real" erotica so that might be why. In fact I fell asleep reading it, which belies most peoples "can't put it down " reviews.

'50 Shades of Grey' Movie May Be Killed by 'Twilight'

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