Over the weekend the highly anticipated, big screen adaptation of your Aunt’s favorite piece of erotica, “Fifty Shades Of Grey,” hit a major bump in the road. Charlie Hunnam, slated to play Christian Grey, suddenly dropped out of the movie, citing an “immersive TV schedule” that wouldn’t let him adequately prepare for the part. Immediately, suspicion was cast on the studio sanctioned reasoning—surely he was aware of his TV schedule? what kind of deep preparation does anyone need for this movie?—and naturally, today comes further rumors.
According to US Magazine (yeah, yeah, we know…), Hunnam wasn’t interested in the movie to start, with their source claming, “He told his agents from the beginning he didn’t want to do it and was going to pull out.” However, a second source tells the tabloid the official story is legit. Meanwhile, THR offers that the script by Kelly Marcel might have been the problem—it’s now getting a polish by Patrick Marber (“Closer,” “Notes On A Scandal“)—though other sources say that’s not true. In any event, everyone is pressing on to meet the November start date, and as such, contenders to replace Hunnam are now being tossed around.
According to the trade, Alexander Skarsgard and Jamie Dornen (of U.K. series “The Fall“) are ” possible replacements,” while folks like Theo James (“Divergent,” “Underworld: Awakening“) and Christian Cooke (the most recent “Romeo And Juliet“) are being looked at again, after being eyed during the first round casting.
It looks like it’s going to be an interesting few weeks as Focus Features tries to get this back on track, and we’ll see if the Sam Taylor-Johnson directed film can still make the August 1, 2014 release date. Thoughts? Do you like these new choices or should the filmmakers be looking at someone else?
Nooooo… keep looking or convince Charlie Hunnam.
Who cares?