Spain to cameo in 'Fifty Shades of Grey' film

Looks like the Canary Islands are doing the Hollywood thing again in February 2014, as the honeymoon scenes in the film version of "Fifty Shades of Grey" are set to be filmed in Tenerife. This will be followed by a business meeting scene set in Madrid.

Tenerife has few golden sand beaches (the majority being black volcanic sand). According to production staff, one of these will be the backdrop to Chris and Ana's honeymoon scenes in the shooting of the film version of the best-selling erotic novel "Fifty Shades of Grey." There will also be a brief stop in Spain's capital, Madrid, during the film to make a cameo of Alessandro Proto, the entrepreneur who inspired the author to create the character of Christian Grey. Also relating to Spain, it is interesting to note that the role of Anastasia Steele is to be played by the step-daughter of Spanish actor Antonio Banderas, Dakota Johnson (daughter of Banderas' wife Melanie Griffith and former husband Don Johnson). According to Sensacine (in Spanish) she will be playing opposite Jamie Dornan as the handsome, yet tormented, billionaire named Christian Grey. The movie is set to be released in the USA on February 13, 2015. Despite mixed and negative reviews, E.L. James' novel "Fifty Shades of Grey" has sold more than 90 million copies worldwide. According to the publishers, Penguin Random House, over a million of those copies were sold in Spain last year, translated into the Spanish language. Meanwhile Spain's Canary Islands are becoming a popular venue for Hollywood as recently filming was ongoing for Ron Howard's "In the Heart of the Sea" featuring Thor star, Chris Hemsworth, along with scenes from Ridley Scott's upcoming epic movie, "Exodus". It is good news indeed for the economy of the Canary Islands.