Fifty Shades Darker: Dakota Johnson confirms James Foley as director but admits she felt 'afraid' when Sam Taylor-Johnson left

House of Cards director James Foley has signed on to direct the sequel

Dakota Johnson with Fifty Shades of Grey director Sam Taylor-Johnson (Rex Features)

Dakota Johnson has revealed that although she is "excited" to make the Fifty Shades of Grey sequel, she felt "afraid" when original director Sam Taylor-Johnson left the franchise.

The US actress plays Anastasia Steele in the movie adaptation of EL James' bestselling erotic novels about BDSM-loving billionaire Christian Grey.

Both Johnson and co-star Jamie Dornan are signed on for follow-ups Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed, but Taylor-Johnson's decision to quit over creative differences with James temporarily left the much-hyped project in limbo.

"There was a moment of being afraid because I didn't know what it was going to be like. I had an experience with Sam and then it all went away," Johnson told Empire.

Sam Taylor-Johnson, Jamie Dornan and Dakota on the Fifty Shades set (Universal)

James Foley, best known for House of Cards, is now on board to direct the sequel, and Johnson is pleased with the choice.

"Now I'm excited. I think James is a talented filmmaker," she said. "How often do you get to reconvene with the same people and have a different spin?"

Fifty Shades Darker is due in UK cinemas on 10 February 2017, with Fifty Shades Freed expected on 9 February 2018.

Both films will be hoping to capitalise once again on the Valentine's Day audience that saw Fifty Shades of Grey break box office records and earn $558 million worldwide.