Artist Sam Taylor-Johnson to direct ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ movie

The film adaptation of “Fifty Shades of Grey� will have one of Britian’s best-known visual artists at the helm.

Author E.L. James announced via Twitter that photographer and filmmaker Sam Taylor-Johnson will direct the movie based on her bestselling erotic novel.

“I’m delighted & thrilled to let you guys know that Sam Taylor-Johnson has agreed to direct the film of ‘Fifty Shades of Grey,’� James tweeted Wednesday.

The first in a trilogy, “Fifty Shades,� plays out an S&M-heavy; affair between young college graduate Anastasia Steele and 27-year-old billionaire Christian Grey.

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“I am excited to be charged with the evolution of ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ from page to screen,� Taylor-Johnson said in a statement. “For the legions of fans, I want to say that I will honor the power of Erika’s book and the characters of Christian and Anastasia. They are under my skin too.�

The 46-year-old artist was nominated for a Turner Prize in 1998. Her well-known works include a video portrait of a sleeping David Beckham hanging at London’s National Portrait Gallery and the book “Crying Men,� which features 50 pages of famous men in tears, including Jude Law, Hayden Christiansen, Ryan Gosling and Paul Newman.

Taylor-Johnson made her directorial debut in the 2009 film “Nowhere Boy� about John Lennon’s youth.

James’ “Fifty Shades� trilogy are ebook and publishing sensations, selling more than 70 million copies worldwide since 2012. No actors have been announced for the film.

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