'Fifty Shades Darker' Movie Trailer: Sequel Cast Dakota Johnson Talks About Ana Steele's Character -- Find Out More!

The sequel to the highly-successful "Fifty Shades Of Grey" is due out next year and cast-star Dakota Johnson has opened up about her character's role development.

Playing the role of Anastasia Steele comes with a lot of expectations and pressure given the popularity of the book series. In a new interview with Elle Magazine, the 26-year-old actress opened up about how she felt about people's perceptions of Steele in the film "Fifty Shades of Grey."

"I needed Anastasia to be funny," she told the magazine, as she wanted her character to be relatable despite her extraordinary circumstances," said Johnson. She continued, "If you can't laugh during a movie like that, you're f**ked, literally," added the gorgeous brunette.

She the said that she believes the role called for "something that everyone can relate to."

Other big-name stars linked to the role Johnson eventually walked away with include Alicia Vikander, Shailene Woodley and Emma Watson. 

The director of the original film only had praises for Johnson during an earlier interview. Fashion & Style recalled how Sam spoke about casting the role and her thoughts on Dakota.

"There had to be a sense of wide-eyed, excitable curiosity, but grounded in a worldliness," she shared. "Anastasia had to have an inner strength that would carry her through the darkest of moments. I knew straightaway that Dakota was the girl," remarked Taylor-Johnson.

"Fifty Shades Darker" News & Updates

In an earlier report published by Parent Herald, it was revealed that fans are starting to lose interest in the movie as news continue to pour out that production is encountering issues.

Some of the speculated concerns include E.L. James' tight grip on production and planning, issues between James, the "Fifty Shades of Grey" trilogy author, and former project director Sam Taylor-Johnson. There were also earlier rumors of a stand-off between cast stars Johnson and her leading man, Jamie Dornan.

Recently, Parent Herald published in a separate article that while director James Foley has been signed, a casting director has yet to be lined up thus, casting has commenced. "We're nowhere near casting. We haven't gotten into anything like that. We don't even have a casting director on it yet," quoted News Everyday of producer Dana Brunetti.

The second installment of the series, "Fifty Shades Darker" is expected to begin filming over the next few months and will hit theaters on Feb. 10, 2017.