'Everybody's looking': New Fifty Shades Darker trailer reveals glamorous Masquerade Ball sequence 

By Sameer Suri For Dailymail.com

Published: 11:42 EST, 2 February 2017 | Updated: 11:46 EST, 2 February 2017

A new promo for Fifty Shades Darker's debuted on YouTube on Thursday.

The featurette takes fans behind the scenes of a luxuriant masquerade sequence pulled straight from EL James' 2012 novel of the same name.

The clip opens with a brief scene starring the film's leads Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan.

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Hand in hand: A new promo for Fifty Shades Darker 's debuted on YouTube on Thursday

Incoming: The clip opens with a brief scene starring the film's leads Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan

Anastasia Steele's sat next to her business mogul boss-turned-lover Christian Grey in a car, she in a gleaming cleavage-baring dress and he in a tuxedo, as he opens a box.

Set against red felt are two masks, his solid black and hers baroquely patterned and silver. 'Did I mention it was a mask ball?' he says softly, and she grins.

Talking-head sequences follow, with the 27-year-old telling viewers that 'the masquerade ball lends a sense of mystery to the film.'

Dynamic duo: Released on Thursday, it includes commentary from such figures from the film as stars Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan

The 34-year-old, showcasing his musclebound arms in a T-shirt with folded-up sleeves, then explains the fête's 'put on by Christian's parents for charity.'

What the County Down native calls an 'incredible' party, the daughter of Melanie Griffith describes as 'massive,' noting that 'the colours are very saturated.'

Shots of the lavishly appointed party show the film's main couple striding across a series of tables peopled with high society in elaborate costume.

Explanations: Talking-head sequences include the 27-year-old telling viewers that 'The masquerade ball lends a sense of mystery to the film'

Director James Foley described the sequence as 'a mammoth undertaking, which I give Nelson Coates, the production designer, a lot of credit for.'

'There's so much eye-candy going on,' quoth Coates, before a shot shows masked men dressed for the Renaissance milling between tables of impressed attendees.

Christian and Anastasia stroll to the party across a red carpet, greeted by a fire breather in a black and red spotted outfit and a top hat.

Not long now: A new promo for Fifty Shades Darker's debuted on YouTube eight days before the film opens in cinemas

Inside the party, a man in a sleeveless, lavishly designed black and gold tunic slides a glass sphere across his forearms near a table.

In the book, this masquerade is where Anastasia first comes face to face with the chic and vicious Elena Lincoln, swiftly despising her and calling her 'Mrs Robinson.'

A friend of Christian's mother, Elena had slept with Christian when he was only 15 and was running a salon enterprise with him by the time of the masquerade.

Filled with high society: What the County Down native calls an 'incredible' party, the daughter of Melanie Griffith describes as 'massive,' noting that 'the colours are very saturated'

Kim Basinger's due to play her in the film, and Grace Trevelyan-Grey - mother of the leading man - will be portrayed by Marcia Gay Harden.

Grace does make an appearance in the trailer, sat at her party table in an elegant black dress and conversing with a member of staff.

Marcus Viscidi, one of the film's producers, could be seen masking himself for a cameo whilst wearing an opulent pink and gold period look.

Trade secrets: 'Every single mask was embellished with additional headpieces, which went with whatever the costume was,' explained costume designer Shay Cunliffe

In his talking-head segment of the featurette, he detailed: 'We had 200 guests that all needed to be in Venetian masks, outfits.'

Costume designer Shay Cunliffe, whose work includes We're The Millers and The Bourne Ultimatum, elaborated a bit on her work as well.

'Every single mask was embellished with additional headpieces, which went with whatever the costume was,' said she, adding: 'It was fabulous.'

Special appearance: Marcus Viscidi, one of the film's producers, could be seen masking himself for a cameo whilst wearing an opulent pink and gold period look

'It's lavish, it's sensuous, and it looks fabulous,' said EL James, who's penned the whole trilogy of books on which the film trilogy's based.

'It's the sort of place you think: "I wish I was there,"' she said, whereupon the promo launched into a clip of Christian and Anastasia crossing the party.

'Everyone's looking at us,' she says quietly, holding his hand, to which her dashing paramour replies; 'Not us. You.'

Fifty Shades Darker, which was preceded by Fifty Shades Of Grey and will be followed by Fifty Shades Freed, will be out in Britain and America on February 10. 

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