'Fifty Shades Darker' Adds Hugh Dancy (Exclusive)

Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan are returning for the sequel to Universal's hit adaptation of EL James' erotic novels.

Hugh Dancy has been cast in Fifty Shades Darker, the next film based on EL James' erotic book series.

Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan, who starred in 2015's Fifty Shades of Grey, will reprise their roles in the Universal sequel, playing Anastasia and billionaire Christian Grey, respectively. In the follow-up, Ana starts a new job, and at the same time she's faced with dealing with the reappearance of some of Christian's former flames.

Dancy will play Dr. John Flynn, a psychiatrist whom Grey begins seeing after the reappearance of his former lover (who initiated him into the world of S&M) Mrs. Elena “Robinson” Lincoln (played by Kim Basinger). Originally from England, Flynn moved to Seattle after he married an American woman.

Tyler Hoechlin, Rita Ora and Marcia Gay Harden also star in Darker, which is filming in Vancouver.

James Foley is directing both Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed, based on a script by Niall Leonard, James' husband. Universal has slated Darker, which sees producers Michael De Luca, Dana Brunetti and James returning, for release on Feb. 10, 2017. Marcus Viscidi also produces.

Fifty Shades Freed, which will be filmed back-to-back with Darker, is set to open Feb. 9, 2018. The first installment, Fifty Shades of Grey, was a huge hit, earning $560 million at the global box office.

English actor Dancy currently stars on Hulu’s drama The Path with Aaron Paul and Michelle Monaghan. He previously starred on NBC’s Hannibal, for which he received two Critics’ Choice Award nominations, and he was nominated for an Emmy for playing the Earl of Essex in HBO's miniseries Elizabeth I.

Dancy is repped by UTA, United Agents, Parseghian Planco and Jackoway Tyerman.