Christian Grey a masked man in Fifty Shades Darker teaser

With the release date of the sequel to Fifty Shades Of Grey confirmed, fans have been given a sneak peek at what's in store in the next installment.

In the first teaser clip for Fifty Shades Darker, Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan) is seen getting ready for a masquerade ball, putting on a tuxedo jacket and pulling a black mask down over his eyes.

The clip doesn't give much away but includes the suspenseful sound of a piano with heavy breathing and certainly hints that the relationship between student Anastasia Steele and Mr Grey delves to darker levels.

The captions flashing up reads: "Are you ready ... for something... darker?"

While fans will have to wait until February 2017 for the second film in the trilogy, Universal Pictures chairman Donna Langley revealed a little more about the direction the film will take.

Speaking at The Hollywood Reporter's annual Power Lawyers breakfast she said Darker will be "more of a thriller" than the first installment.

Fifty Shades Of Grey, which hit cinemas over Valentine's weekend in February, was erotically charged and suspenseful, centering on Anastasia being introduced to Christian's penchant for BDSM in the bedroom.

Langley also addressed rumours of creative tension between trilogy's author EL James and director Sam Taylor-Johnson, who won't be returning for the next installment.

She said: "For the record, the movie we ended up making is exactly the movie I wanted to make and that the studio wanted to make and that our director wanted to make."

While Kelly Marcel penned the first screen adaptation, James' husband Niall Leonard has been hired to write the screenplay for the sequel.

Langley said: "He actually did a draft that wasn't credited on the first movie, and he did a really good job."

Leonard has written for British TV and authored the Crusher book series while also helping his wife proof-read her original series.

Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti, alongside James will return to produce the flick.

While a new director has not been attached to the project, sources tell Vanity Fair they hope to begin production on the new film in early 2016.

Fifty Shades Darker will hit cinemas on February 10, 2017, while the trilogy will complete on February 9, 2018 with Fifty Shades Freed.

Dakota Johnson starred as Anastasia opposite Dornan as Grey in the first movie and they're expected to return for the final two films.

The erotic thriller was released in mid-February and has taken in nearly $570 million at the worldwide box office.

- Daily Mail