I hate to admit this, but I have been following the casting news from the film adaptation of 50 Shades of Grey. It’s my feeling – from random conversations with college-age women – that this film is for them, and they will be fine if the movie is cast out of the CW. Even though the books are “mommy p0rn,” they’re also S&M-lite chick lit for young women, a demographic Hollywood wants to appeal to more and more. So, at the end of the day, Hollywood is going to be making this film for the average 19-year-old outgrown Twihard more than the 40-something mom. Which means that all of the casting suggestions for Christian Grey as a Daniel Craig-type or Michael Fassbender-type are absolute rubbish. The role with go to a guy not older than 33, at most, and he’ll be “pretty”. Trust me.
That being said, I’m sort of surprised with this little piece of news – according to Us Weekly, the producers offered the Christian role to Garrett Hedlund and he turned them down flat. Wow. And not only that, sources say Ian Somerhalder (who desperately wants the part) isn’t being considered. BURN.
Garrett Hedlund doesn’t want to be chained to the role of Christian Grey. A source tells Us Weekly the On the Road actor, 28, passed on playing the S&M-obsessed lead in the film version of E.L. James’ erotic novel, Fifty Shades of Grey.
“Doing a possible trilogy was too big a commitment, and producers wouldn’t let him do just one film,” says the source of Kirsten Dunst’s boyfriend.
Ian Somerhalder, 34, seems out too. Though the star campaigned for the role, he’s not a contender as far as James is concerned. During an interview with Ryan Seacrest on KISS-FM in April, The Vampire Diaries actor, 34, said he would “absolutely” be up for playing the role of Grey. “It could be very, very amazing,” Somerhalder said. “I have the book and I just started reading it. That would be a pretty incredible thing, and hopefully that could pan out . . . Beyond the shadow of a doubt, I think that would be a phenomenal opportunity!”
Unfortunately, that opportunity may not be his for the taking. A source tells Us, “E.L. was at a Comic-Con party July 20 telling people the part won’t go to Ian.”
The only known casting decision for the Fifty Shades of Grey movie, so far, has been the director. James revealed on Twitter in June that Sam Taylor-Johnson has been hired to direct the film. “I saw both of her films, and I was blown away. Simple,” the author recently told Vulture of the Nowhere Boy director. “She’s creative, incredibly talented, she’s got an extraordinary eye. She had a good idea about the whole Fifty experience, she understands it. And I thought, There’s a woman I can go and get drunk with.”
Oh, I had forgotten that Sam Taylor-Johnson was hired as director. Yeah, that ups the ante a bit because she actually is a respected artist and filmmaker, and it will be interesting to see what a woman’s touch will have on this material. Sam is famously married to Aaron Johnson (Aaron Taylor-Johnson now) – my guess is that he’s being considered for the part, but maybe he won’t get it.
As for Garrett turning down the part… he doesn’t really need the role, although it would have been fascinating to see him as the object of so much fan-girl desire. I get the feeling that Garrett really sees himself as a proper actor doing important work with real artists, but the temptation to work with Sam wasn’t great enough to commit to this terrible trilogy. As for Ian… ha. I mean, sad. Poor Ian. He wanted the part so, so much.
The fact that producers were pursuing Garrett Hedlund does open up the casting choices a bit, doesn’t it? I mean, I’m actually attracted to Garrett, and I never thought they’d hire someone I actually liked. So, who is an up-and-coming guy with real acting chops? Alex Pettyfer might have auditioned for the role too, but he has a reputation as a difficult bastard. Who else?
Photos courtesy of W Magazine, Details and WENN.
I don’t even know who this guy is, but bless him. Smart move. Self-respect. Stay miles away from this trash.
You’re sooo right, Noreen! We women deserve much, much better soft porn than this drivel.
You might recognize him from playing Brad Pitt’s cousin in Troy, Four Brothers with Mark Wahlberg or Tron Legacy.
Very smart of him not to committ career sucicide.
Haven’t seen those movies. I literally have no idea who he is, though I just read he’s married (?) to Kirsten Dunst. He’s good-looking, that’s for sure.
Smart for dating Kirsten Dunst and smart for turning down this trash.
Probably doesn’t want to be constantly mobbed and scrutinized by obsessed fans like they did with Twilight actors.
Garrett is too much the boy next door look. Not brooding and sexy enough. I don’t think Hollywood will think much of the guy they get to play this.
Oh I beg to differ on the “too much next door”. The man is fine!
I completely agree, Noreen. I downloaded the sample of 50 Shades on my Kindle, and couldn’t even finish that small part. It has been a long time since I’ve read anything so poorly written. I hated to see it rewarded with such commercial success.
I have not read it because I heard it was a mess, and as a former editor, I simply can’t enjoy a book when all I want to do is grab my red pen. What makes it worse is that E.L. James was nominated for a Nobel Prize in literature. True story.
He doesn’t look like Christian Grey, the most dashing man on the planet Earth. So, yeah, it was a good idea, imho.
I totally disagree he would of been perfect as Christian Grey. He’s fione!!
He should play Bruce Wayne.
Wow…I like that suggestion. Never thought of it before…
Right? He’d be perfect. I think they should consider him, and I think he should consider the part if they want to talk to him about it. He’s just got that Bruce Wayne swagger, and I can’t think of many other young actors out there that do.
Interesting idea
Yes!!! Good idea!
Ladies, listen to him talk.
yes! much better than that guy who’s been rumored (I forgot who, an unknown to me)
Never thought of him for that! Perfect.
Ewww no!
Yes! I love his voice!
YESSSS! I knew he was too good for this crap. Smart guy, and so so sexy.
The leopard pants are bad, but not his fault.
I feel bad for Ian though..I wonder why they passed on him?
Never read the book but the fact that Sam Taylor-Johnson is signed on makes it slightly more interesting to me.
I agree, smart move.
The fact that he is SHORT as hell is enough for that author to flat out eliminate him as a contender. HAHAHA
I mean i have watched every episode of TVD but i am so so tired of that Ian Smoholder guy. All those fan girls of Ian are gonna be pissed. hahahaha just got flat out rejected by the AUTHOR of the book. OUCH!!!
I really, really hope that quote from Ian Somerholder wasn’t real…that is so needy. No. Just no. That’s wrong. I think that this movie might be a step up from what it was going to be, but “Secretary” it ain’t.
The books were hugely overrated, imo. The first was good, the second decent, the third was barely readable. I skipped through half the third and a lot of the second book just to get to the damn ending. They also romanticized domestic abuse and a man having total control over his woman, although those issues were resolved at the end, it was arguably offensive to women, and gives the idea that the right woman can change even an extremely damaged, stalking, controlling boyfriend into a perfect guy. Totally unrealistic and i just hope most of the young female readers also see this.
They’re unreadable because they’re a poor man’s fan fiction and the original source (Twilight) was just as poorly written and edited. ” Suethor” E.L James was so busy getting off on her main characters and living vicariously through her books, that she barely took her hands out of her pants to write a decent stoy. These books have NO PLOT! Oh there’s plenty of filler, bland and repetitive sex scenes and wish fulfillment (E.L. basically wrote herself as Anastasia Steele/Bella Swan, who has the perfect body and scores the hottest guy in her universe and lives happily ever after)! But I repeat: NOTHING HAPPENS! What little plot potential E.L created in her books was shat away because she didn’t want anything bad to happen to her (self-insert Anastasia) or her byronian-love-interest-from-hell, Christian Grey. Her books are poorly edited, if edited at all, and that’s just a slap in the face to the readers and literature in general. I’m sure her editors probably made corrections but James, being the brilliant writer of our generation that she is, most likely poo-poo’d them away because the tale that she’d weaved was utter perfection! So now you have one large fan fiction (Master of the Universe=FSoG) that was sliced into three novels, for maximum sales. Each has no plot, each is poorly written and poorly edited…her characters are NOT great examples of a ‘tru wuv’ story: Anastasia is a weak, woman-hating, anorexic, alcoholic, possible schizophrenic, twat who does NO growing as a character and changes herself to stay with her abusive boyfriend. Christian is an asshat, jealous, abusive, spoiled, ABUSIVE, inconsiderate, elitist snob, who does NOT grow in these books as a character, or in a realistic manner (Ana’s magical vanilla vagina is NOT a cure for his deep-seated need to control and abuse women).
This rant is aimed at E.L.James and the media that perpetuates the idea that these are 1.Entertaining books, 2. interesting books that contain dark erotica (please), 3. That Ana’s a strong protagonist and with her magical vagina she saves Christian, 3. That Christian Grey is the ideal man who all women want, 4. The BDSM portrayed in these books is accurate (NOT)!
What absolutely blows my mind is the fact that women are eating this crap up! Are they blind? Do they not see the abuse? Worse yet, they DO see the abuse but since Christian’s pretty, and had a bad childhood it’s excused. My hatred for these books knows no bounds! Thank you for letting me rant, I feel better now ( ;
@Alexandria
*slow clap*
BRAVO
I really enjoyed this ‘rant’, which perfectly summarized everything wrong with 50SG. I have not read the books (nor Twilight, tho I did watch the first 2 or 3 movies), bc I would not subject myself to them, nor did I want to endorse them in any way. However, my BFF was hate-reading them (pdf version) and would email me some parts from time to time. Mostly the ‘inner goddess’ bits, which were supposed to be funny? but were ridic, and also some parts that were _supposed_ to be poignant and dramatic (that’s what the words indicated) but instead made me either cringe or LOL.
I have read quite a lot of fan fiction (mostly HP and some HG), and the quality of writing and story in 50SG falls SO far below average, it gives fan fiction a bad name.
My only disagreement with you is on the media perpetuating all the notions you enumerated (1-4). I think pretty much everyone in the media – publishing, entertainment at large, etc – knows that these books are crap. All the reviews and countless satirical memes are proof of that. They arent trying to sell these books as anything ‘good.’ But this garbage outsold HP and Twilight and the Bible combined in like 5 seconds (I am only slightly exaggerating), so money must be made. Even if everyone making it knows they are doing it off a piece of sh-t.
I tried to read the first book on the advice of friends. I couldn’t get through more than 25 pages or so. The female character’s response to everything seemed to be, “oh crap”. I agree. As someone who worked in publishing for years the fact that this shite is what people are raving about is just…. Sad
In reply to @Anna
You’re right. The media is just contributing to the hype already perpetuated by rabid fans of E.L. James.
Huh? Since when does p0rn have to have a plot?
@The Original G
If it’s p0rn written well, then little plot is needed. James can’t write a truly erotic sex scene for crap and each scene is basically a copy of a previous scene. Christian demands that Ana “come” and she “detonates” around him in an earth-shattering orgasm, and they climax simultaneously. Also, Ana, a 22-year-old female in the 21st century, didnt even realize that she could pleasure herself without Christian’s magic dong. This is p0rn for women who either have no sex lives, or who are sexually immature and will accept any sex that’s given to them.
Anyway, we all are entitled to our own opinion, and if someone truly enjoyed reading this drivel then that’s fine. But there are lots of problems with these books.
Good Lord. It’s porn. It either gets you wet or it doesn’t. It’s not a matter of critical analysis.
It’s not that you’d want a well-written masterpiece; it’s that you’d at least want something readable! An “illicit” copy of The Story of O made its way around me and my friends when I was a young ‘un. Same subject matter. But by a WRITER, not an idiot.
These are some of the best reviews I have read. I don’t understand how this book got worshipped as some sort of ‘verbal porn for women mixed with a genuine love story’ by critics.
I didn’t ever consider reading it, because books ‘aimed at women’ usually turn me off/insult me, but the popularity made me read a summary. Ugh. A sad, lonely, woman with some real issues’ wish fulfillment.
It’s not even fanfiction–a lot of fanfiction is amazing and can even exceed published works. It doesn’t take talent to get published, generally–it takes connections. The authoring world is competitive; you usually have difficulty even picking up an agent if you don’t know someone who can say a few words in your favor. This shit book got published, I am assuming because the author had a foot in the door.
@Original G
I think what most people find objectionable about 50SG is not that it’s p0rn [without plot], but that this crappy p0rn without plot miraculously sold tens of millions of copies and resulted in a $5-mil movie deal, when so much quality work goes unread/unpublished.
(and what I personally find mildly disturbing is that read in such huge numbers, these stories perpetuate some rather unhealthy notions about gender, relationships and sexuality, made even more effective bc these books have now entered the ‘mainstream’ – not just some kink that ppl get their rocks off in private)
I totally get that Anne. What I’m suggesting is that a gender/cultural/literary analysis of this “book” is pointless. It’s porn, period, which is bad, by definition in any of those contexts.
It’s like subjecting a hot dog to a culinary review? Porn is cheap, often boring, usually badly made, completely unrealistic and it makes millions every day.
50S barely qualifies as porn. The writing is utter rubbish and there is about as much sexual tension as on an episode of Sesame Street. I ended up skipping my way through the first book.
And – I actually *liked* the first Twilight book. The writing wasn’t fantastic, but the story was interesting and engaging (remember, this was before every single book out there featured a vampire or supe of some sort).
But 50 Shades blew, utterly blew, and not in a good way.
mmm….mousey men with small noses and dainty faces and scrawny bods….NO THANKS
Chritian Bale (since the character is British I take it since I would never read such a stupid book) should take the role. At least he’s chizzied.
I think even Bale would laugh hysterically at that suggestion.
Do you know that there is a video with a paparazzi asking to Bale if he will act Christian Grey?
Oh, god, no. Bale is too smart for that crap, too. Frankly, they do need to be looking at CW or, perhaps, some reality show stud. It will likely be a big franchise, which will make most of sick to our stomachs, but I hope they don’t waste any good talent on it.
Okay, now I’m off to look for that video Don’tkillme mentioned.
@French-is there really a video? Someone find it-I wanna see!
@thiajoka-It’s Bale. He’s one of the best, if not THE best of our generation–he’s not gonna do this shit. And I agree that CW is the Christian Grey goldmine.
I can’t wait for this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw0qH34cbRE
@Kitten. How did I not know about this movie? It looks soooo good. Great cast and how lucky is Zoe that she gets to work with Bale?
I’m actually squeeing a little. Bale is my number #1 celebrity crush.
@ I Choose-My friend (who’s a movie fanatic like myself) just sent me the trailer a couple weeks ago-surprised I hadn’t heard of it either. I got chills when I watched the it AND it reminded me how much I love “Release” and what a great album Ten was 🙂
..but had I know you were such a huge Bale fan, I would have shared it with you sooner! Such a great cast and I’m actually rooting for Zoe.
Garrett seems too earth for the role… not smarmy enough. I’m surprised he lost out on Finnick for The Hunger Games.
You gotta love how EL James is being so picky.
Garrett was my choice for Finnick too. Sad the role didn’t go to him.
Glad to see he turned this one down though.
Finnick. Finnick. Finnick.
I normally put Garrett Hedlund in the “Ugh, bland” file but I think it’s a smart move he turned this down. Aaron Taylor-Johnson has already said he will not do this movie and will support his wife by taking care of the children while she directs this.
There is no way in h8ll that Chris Hemsworth or Eddie Redmanye would take this part. Stephen Amell (Green Arrow) said he took a meeting for it.
On the Finnick tip though, seeing the pictures of what they did to Sam Claflin for the part of Finnick is just comical. I think Garrett would have been a better choice for that part.
If people keep turning the part down, Ian Somerholder might just get lucky.
Pulled this from Stephen Amell’s Facebook (post was back in May):
“Was on a flight yesterday evening back to LA with no movie, so I grabbed 50 Shades of Grey and burned through it.
Ummm… I hope they get the movie made, and I’m sure someone will be excellent in it. That person will not be me.”
Which, phew. I love him — would hate to see that love turned to Twihate if he were in this movie! 😉
@Leigh, for whatever reason, I can’t reply to you but thank you for that info on Stephen Amell. I am glad he did come out and say he wouldn’t take the part. I think he could parlay Arrow into something and 50 Shades will stall his momentum.
Jesus, this guy is hot. That picture of him with a cigarette makes me want to start smoking….
He has ‘it’, that watchability that makes movie stars, and of course he’s too good for those dirty old lady books.
“He has ‘it’, that watchability that makes movie stars”
You’ve clearly never seen that turd called “Tron”
HA!! Clearly.
@Jen-Tron was the first thing I saw him in.
I LOVED the original Tron as a kid, so my friends took me to the new one on my bday a few years ago. Two of us fell asleep for 45 minutes of it. It was SO terrible, but Garrett IS a talented actor-it’s not his fault that Tron was a pile of shit.
Haha, no I’ve never seen Tron! Saw him in On The Road though, and I still think he has a James Dean quality. He’s even almost pulling off the leopard print trousers.
I didn’t get the Garrett thing until I saw Country Strong. The movie is just ok, but he was the best thing about it. You could really get his charisma in this one.
Have heard he’s really good in On The Road. Haven’t seen it yet, will have to check it out when it’s on DVD.
no one could have made tron worked. But country strong was a pretty turdy movie, and yet he shined in it. He’s got charisma onscreen for sure.
We can’t judge him on tron… that’s mean. I think he has great potential, he’s been pretty good in a couple of other things that he’s been in he does brooding well. He is however really really gorgeous and I suspect I may soon become a ‘hedlundatic'(too long?)
Garrett is relatively unknown and doesn’t have a very ‘money’ career, which would make this project lucrative for him, but he also has some indie cred so…no. Either way, I wont rest easily until they cast this b*tch bc Hemsworth rumors keep circulating w/regards to this project and my heart wont take it.
Which Hemsworth? Please not my Chrissy boo boo. I already had to suffer that crappy Snow White trash just to oogle at him.
Exactly MY Chrissy Boo Boo 😉 And the most recent rumor I’ve read is actually both Hemsworths – bc apparently Grey has a brother? My only hope is that Chris is super-uncomfortable with the material to even consider it. He did a ‘reading’ as part of the Huntsman promo tour (as did Charlize, KStew and the Prince dude) and was SO awkward and horrible.
I don’t see any way Hemsworth would take this. Why would he? He’s got Avengers 2 coming up, and the next SWATH too, plus others. He doesn’t this.
And judging by his reaction to the comic reading of the material during SWATH promo, he wouldn’t touch this with a ten foot pole.
@Another Ann –
Your words to God’s – and Hemsworth’s – ears, girl!
Now now Anna, you know you have custody on Tuesdays and Thursdays, while I have custody on Mondays and Wednesdays. And we alternate the 3 day weekends, and this weekend is mine to own the CHemsworth. 🙂
Very, very smart move on his part. I truly believe that any actor or actress who make this movie will be forever tainted and their career will be over or will never start. This movie will have to be “soft-p0rn” and that is never good for anyone’s career. If Ian S. wants it so much, he might just end up with it when everybody else turns it down.
I’ve also been following the casting rumors, etc. and a lot of young women have also turned this movie down. I think a bunch of unknowns or some of the young’uns from “90210” or “Gossip Girl” will be cast because none of them really have careers at the moment.
P.S.: I disagree about Sam Taylor-Johnson. I don’t think she’s a good director at all.
I agree with you on ALL points.
I didn’t read the book and somehow I don’t plan to but I’d love to coment on the soft porn thing. I don’t know what Lars is going to do with Nymphomaniac; but La vie d’Adele (Blue is the warmest color) has had a lot of success and the two actresses have even been awarded Palm d’Or (which was an exception) and I think it has just launched their career. So it’s all in directors hands – adaptations can be done really good even with this kind of stories; or they could be tragic. But a good director and writer…you can never be sure.
Agreed.
The source material is G*d awful, so heaven only knows how they’re going to wring a decent script out of it, the trilogy is so “last season” already and STJ’s only feature-length film to date was underwhelming, slow and tanked like the proverbial led zeppelin.
Hollywood – just stop!
Don’t you guys think that porn start “james dean” would be perfect for this role?!? you know that guy who did a movie with linsay lohan.
In my head I can picture Garrett as Christian but I don’t want him to actually take the awful part.
Here’s an idea – Hiddleston. His fans would be all over that.
My first reaction was “Good move,” but like Kaiser, I had forgotten that ST-J was directing. She should be able to pull in someone with some cred. Christian was in his late twenties in the novels, so a younger actor makes sense. Can’t really think of one that is both pretty (for the college set), yet manly (for the Minivan Majority). I am more interested in seeing what ST-J will do with the movies than I was in the books — they were crap. I finished them only so I could have intelligent discussions about them, but I am in the distinct minority in my set.
Wouldn’t being a “difficult bastard” be a plus in this case, seen the character?
Idk, I never finished the first book. Still don’t know how it became so popular. Extremely badly written, badly developed and unbelievable characters, empty story and on top of that very ill-informed about S&M. And it’s not even hot.
Also, I kept on reading how people were finding him romantic. He’s an abusive, controlling stalker. Yes, very romantic. I have several friends who are trying to break into the world of novelwriting (is that a word?) and they keep being turned down by publishers. It pains me to see the amount of crap that does get a bookdeal.
The first book was by FAR the worst. I’m in the minority around here in that I read and liked the trilogy, but I admit that at the end of the first book I felt sucked in against my will, since everyone was unlikable.
Garrett Hedlund is the first CG suggestion that I looked at and said YES!! PERFECT!! Bummer 🙁
I agree 100%
@Freya: she couldn’t get a book deal. She was consistently turned down by publishers, so she self-published online, and the book became a hit with readers there. But publishers wouldn’t touch the first book with a ten-foot pole.
Aaron Johnson already put out a denial that he would play the role. He’s basically on every casting short list for male roles right now, so there’s no way he’d stoop to do this crap.
I also think Pettyfer only “auditioned” in the sense that he agreed to be in Gus Van Sant’s audition footage, just as a way to get in good with GVS. I doubt he actually wants the role.
And since this is from Us Weekly, I have my doubts Hedlund literally turned down an offer. He probably just declined a meeting/audition. I doubt they’re making offers straight out yet.
According to Deadline, several offers have been officially made and turned down.
Oh, I think they are making offers. And may be starting to panic if everyone is turning them down.
This movie already has a date attached to be in theaters next summer. Which means they need to start filming soon. Which means they need to lock down their cast NOW.
Anyone with any intelligence would not want anything to do with this movie. The books were just bad. They were not remotely sexy.
Goodness gracious me but what a hot guy! I didn’t get into the whole 50 Shades of Grey thing so I don’t know if this is a good thing or a bad thing.
Not that I plan to watch this crap at all (sorry to those who actually like the books, but there are way better books out there that explore the genre in a more interesting way), but I’m happy the producers are not even considering that Somerhalder. I just can’t stand that guy and his bug-eyed acting and considering how much he’d been begging for the role, I’m very pleased they’re not even considering him.
I know I’m being petty. I’m fine with it.
Confession time. I actually liked the books. Were they great writing, no. But, they were entertaining, so served their purpose.
With that said, this is going to be a hard role to cast. It could be a spectacular bomb, tarnishing the reps of all involved, or an art house critic darling, where the actors are praised as “daring and brave.”
And the director, STJ, is a wildcard. Fun times!
Come over and join me in the “I liked it!” corner of the room. We’ll all (both?) sit and stare at our feet shamefacedly, lol.
I liked them too!
I’m joining to LOL. Movies are meant to be watched, not read. So who cares.
I liked the book and I am not shame faced for liking it at all.
Not every book or movie is for everyone.
To all those people, who only read the book so that they could have a discussion, aka, criticize the hell out of it, with their girlfriends and earn their ‘literary snob’ or ‘true feminist’ title, i hope they were also being paid for their time and energy, which they could have better used by reading a book belonging to a genre which they do like. Life is too short to be wasted on earning intellectual brownie points.
*waves* MsCatra, LM, Josie and Dee!
I read the first one. I didn’t think the writing was so awful, as much as the character’s-their personalities, motivations, etc. It was just flat out awful and a horrible representation of how a healthy relationship should be, let alone a healthy bdsm relationship. If I were into bdsm, I would be offended that some idiot thinks she can read a few fanfics and suddenly think that she’s the Queen of BDSM.
Yeah, I definitely didn’t read the first one and feel it was a great relationship. In fact, I spent a lot of time mentally yelling at Ana to grow a pair and tell him off. Like I said in an above comment, I got sucked in even though I really didn’t want to be. I was curious to see what made 50 tick and to see how Ana would evolve, not because I thought the writing was amazing or deep in any way. Totally agree that I hope that readers don’t think it’s a representation of BDSM, a super fun conversation/explanation I had with my mom after she read the series.
Smart guy. I fancy him even more now.
Loved him in Death Sentence. But i have not read the books. But if he took the part for Tron, can’t imagine why he passed on this.
I read an article from approx April 2013 that said Eddie Redmayne had gotten the part. It’s obviously not true, I guess, since now it seems we’re back to speculation about who will get it.
This is the sort of thing best left to the realm of the imagination. ANYONE who tackles it, even succesfully( if that’s possible), is bound to seem vaguely ridiculous for ever.
I don’t know what’s more pathetic – that the American media won’t shut up about the stupid royal baby or that this movie is being made.
Knowing that Garrett Hedlund turned this movie down makes me a fan of his for life. If Hollywood thinks they can cast people that the Minivan Majority has never heard of in these movies, they’re sadly mistaken. Just cast Reese Witherspoon or Jennifer Garner as the female main character, and that guy from Grey’s Anatomy that they’re all in love with as the male main character and call it a day.
Which is worse, the royal baby or all things 50 Shades of Grey? I couldn’t possibly decide which obsession is more idiotic, not if you held a gun to my head. Quite the dilemma.
This movie, if it’s ever made, will not be a good decision for anyone’s career.
Don’t understand folks trashing “Nowhere Boy”- if she’s directed another movie since then, I missed it. NB was great.
I am intrigued by what approach she’ll take. Yes, I get that 99% of posters are of the “it’s crap” school of thought, but sometimes the challenge really gets a director going.
As far as casting goes, I hope they go with unknowns. Ian S was never right for CG, so glad that ship has sailed.
Never read the books since I’m not a middle aged mom or a coming of age girl. Seems like more people need to have sex in this country if a YA book is making them wet, but if they enjoyed the books I hope the movie doesn’t suck for them. Btw Daniel craig is an ugly hobbit.
lmao I wish I could “like” this comment.
“Btw Daniel craig is an ugly hobbit.”
LOL forever. This is truth.
Only actors who are going nowhere fast want this. Who would anyone else would? Ian Somerhalder wants this because he really has no career outside TVD at this time, and obviously he might fade away when that ends. Everyone wants better than what they can really get. The actors and producers.
He is in the next Coens movie, which has a great cast (Oscar Issac, Carey Mulligan, John Goodman and Garett). He might be big one day – I think he is very talented, super watchable, I hope he sticks with the interesting stuff.
Seriously they need to think of a young James Spader. When I saw Secretary….let’s just say I would have been ready and willing to do anything that he said. You need someone that commands your attention and you can see yourself doing anything they wanted to make you happy. Ian heck no.
Am I the only person on earth who doesn’t give a flying you know what about 50 shades of gray? I didn’t read the book, don’t care too, and don’t care about the movie or who is in it. I wish it would just go away already.
No, you’re not. I thought it sounded horrible, but picked it up at the library and opened to a random page. The writing was idiotic and looked to be at about a 4th grade level – no offense to 4th graders – so I put it back down. (I do that with books a lot. Pick a random page and start reading to gauge how stupid, or good, it might be. I might miss a couple of good books, but I avoid MANY more idiotic books.)
More about 50 Shades – my bf’s two nieces were talking about plot points in the books. Their mom also read it (revolting to me to pass around sex books with one’s mom). Anyway, they were talking about how much money the male lead makes, and that was more evidence that the books are just totally moronic fantasies. I think he’s a billionaire or close to it.
I’ve also heard that it isn’t really a BDSM relationship detailed, it’s an abusive one.
I am glad he refused it. For the person who said he should play Bruce Wayne: you’re dead on!!! Good thinking!
Other than Bale, he is the only one I can see playing Batman.
Does ian have bulimia jaw?!
Nope it was the obvious thing to do. It’s way tooooo huge a risk for him. Is there a possibility it could turn out good? Sure, but it’s minuscule.
I never read the books even though I read alot of Romantica…mainly Sylvia Day and Shayla Black. Heard the books were awful and was surprised when a movie was being talked up. I guess every generation needs its 9 1/2 weeks and I do miss Red Shoe Diaries series.
Can’t wait to get FSOG at Redbox.
Are you sure ian actually wants the part? I can’t imagine many guys wanting it, but I guess worse movies have been made and its not like ian has a ton of movie opportunities. But so far he has been asked about it a lot in interviews because of fan interest and online polls and whatnot, and has given generic “it would be a great opportunity” type answers which, I mean, its not professional to say “omg ew I would never do that” when his fan base is responsible for the push to cast him. I think even ian would be above that part given his current level of success on tv. But maybe I am too judgemental about 50 shades. Seems like lifetime movie of the week quality, at best.
These books are so appallingly written that even when someone gave me the first one with the good bits tabbed, I still couldn’t read it.
I can’t see anyone making it anything worth watching to be honest.
All I hope is that the movie is absolutely nothing like the book except in character names. The book is vile and gives a totally wrong picture of BDSM. It portrays an abusive relationship, and that is the opposite of what BDSM is about. For just a start, any dom who tries to make a sub sign a contract is immediately drummed out of any BDSM community I’ve ever heard of.
I think, thanks to the internet, college age women are a lot more savvy about this than many of their elders.
The character in the book says his lawyer insist on them, so I don’t think that was a direct result of BDSM.
Smart move, since the book SUCKED. Straight up crap. I didn’t make it past the third chapter.
I can see this guy playing Bruce Wayne.
He’s doing the Jaden Smith/ Justin Bieber forehead thing in most pictures. Yikes.
I actually like the books…… I don’t think they were well written, but I didn’t read them looking for amazing literature; just some brainless entertainment. Sometimes that’s nice, you know? There is no need to be nasty to people that don’t share your viewpoint on it it being horrible.
With an Oscar nominated screen writer and a very good director I am sooooo excited to see what they make of this.
When I go to a cinema hall, I have generally observed more women between 18 to 35 years of age there, than those above that age bracket. Assuming that most movies are made for the cinema going audience, it’s likely for the producers to cast a guy somewhere in his late 20s or early 30s at best, who has a slight aura of maturity, to cater to the cinema going audience. That would be much more profitable than to cast a Daniel Craig type to please a 40 something woman who’ll probably not even watch the movie in the theater and wait for a DVD or something.
CG was 27 in the book and Ana, i think 21, so casting someone in his 40s at CG would make it look more perverted than romantic.
PS. Sadly Garrett is no CG. He is pretty, but that’s it. He has no charm, stability or air of maturity, even when dressed up in a suit. And if that’s an indication for what the producers are looking at for CG, then I have no faith in them.
My personal favorite for CG is Rob Pattinson, coz. he is who I was imagining while reading FSOG, albeit a little mature and buff. However, I wouldn’t want him to do such a sexually explicit movie, wrong career track for him, I think. But a Big NO to the likes of Garrett or Ian. May be Ryan Gosling type could be a good CG.
If anyone other than Ian is cast I won’t watch it. He would make a PERFECT Christian grey. they need to make this film for adults. but they won’t which sucks.
I see that stupid wrinkly forehead thing and all I can think of is Jaden Smith. Major Fail.
I honestly don’t know how that crapfest 50 shades stuff got so popular…and is even being made into a movie. I tried reading the first one and it was so, so awful I could feel my IQ dropping with every page I read…I finally had to stop when the female character became “disorientated.” Definitely not a sexy or exciting book.
I too am not feeling the forehead.
E.L. James was at ComicCon? What is that I don’t even…
Everyone can be intellectual and give their two cents about the poor quality of non-editing writing, but this woman became filthy rich off of these books, so someone had to be buying them and I don’t think it was stupid women or silly teenagers. I am going to throw in smart, classy adult women who read them behind closed doors but don’t want to admit that they did. I mean GMA and the View were giddy over discussing the books. It doesn’t make any difference to her who bashes her writing, for she got what she wanted from them…rich and famous. She got the idea from Twilight and wrote fanfiction about Bella and Edward during the Twilight period. You probably could still pull it up and read some of it. I read the first book and could see Robert Pattinson in her character since she based it on his looks and mannerisms so it will be very interesting who gets cast for both parts.
You’re right, James is a very savvy woman when it comes to generating pr for her books. You know how she did it? It’s genius: she became super popular in the fandom world because women of all ages were obsessed with Twilight but Meyer didnt write enough sex into her sex scenes. James found that niche and wrote about Edward and Bella having lots of dirrrty Bdsm sex and people ate it up. She eventually posted her fanfic on her own website and publishers saw how obsessed Twihard fans were for Edward and Bella boning. They offer to publish, she does a search and replace for character’s names and changes the title from Master of the Universe (which is still available online for FREE). All of her fans went on Amazon and left tons of positive feedback which generated a shit-ton of publicity. The more people talked about the books, the more people bought them to see what all the fuss was about… leading us to where we are now.
The shady part is, E.L. is banning all fanfiction for FSoG so no one else can capitalize/plagiarize the way she did. The reason why Christian Grey comes off like a sociopathic abuser is because he IS Edward Cullen, except, he’s not a vampire so there’s no supernatural excuse for his creepy behavior.
“The role with go to a guy not older than 33, at most, and he’ll be “pretty”.”
Look, the books sucked and I have no interest in the movie, but obviously the role will go to a guy not older than 33 and pretty, because Christian Grey is described as 27 and slender (as well as being a semi-abusive control freak). It’s not about housewives vs. college students.
No established actor is going to want to seriously take this role. I bet they end up with an unknown or someone really trying to break out and desperate.
Ian is 34? I thought younger than that. He should have a little self respect and stay away from it too!
dream cast
director: Derek Cianfrance
Ryan Gosling
Olivia Thirlby
alas. -__-
I doubt they will be able to bag a smart, career-minded actor. This is more than just that regret-role from a crap film that every actor who’s worked there way up gets. It would be more than just a mistake that even seasoned actors make. This is a career-ender. The kind of thing that would brand a young, male star for the rest of his acting days with an image as some narcissistic, ultra-asshole.
The best they could shoot for is some male-model who has limited interest in making it big on the silver screen outside of that one movie. So, the producers should probably troll an Abercrombie& Fitch shoot.
A co worker of mine raved about this book.
Out of curiosity, I read the reviews on amazon. I know its not a book for me at all.
Even for fiction, it seems incredibly unrealistic. Christian Grey is only 28 years old, but already a self-made billionaire? And a concert pianist as well, who speaks fluent French, is a pilot, very tall and handsome, etc. etc.
Yeah dont like romance *sex* books. Some of the characters are contrived and not enough visuals for my liking. 😉
doesn’t that describe those tech billionaires who all became billionaires straight out of their ivy league schools?
Don’t care about 50 SOG, but Garrett is hot. I love the fact that his background is redneck – reminds me of Channing Tatum in that way.
I don’t care about trashy reads much, have read trashy reads myself, but when people go on about this crap as if it is the best book ever written, then yeah. Plus I hate the message it sends. Being constantly afraid of pissing off your SO? Oh yeah, hot. Not.
After reading what a tool CG was, all I can picture is Scott Disick.
I attempted to read a sample online, but the writing was so bad, I only read about ten pages. Then I saw all these parodies on TV making fun of it as “mom porn” and everyone reading the “hot” sex scenes online. Guess the book is worse than I thought.
Doesn’t seem like any well known actors want the role, so the high class author is going to have to settle for a nobody to play the lead.
My cousin was going on and on about these books on Facebook, even going so far as to fantasize about Christian Grey on her freaking timeline every day for a couple of months.
I took her off my Newsfeed because she just wouldn’t shut up about her “See you in my dreams, Christian Grey!!!!” posts. She hasn’t read any other erotica at that point so she had no idea good erotic novels/erotica are really like.
I’ve read a lot of books from shitty romance novels to downright dirty erotica from some internet sites. Some stories from unknown authors on the internet are quite good, sometimes even better than published works.
I read half of the first book of the 50 Shades of Grey trilogy, but I couldn’t finish it. The sex scenes were not well-written and the dialogue between Anastasia and Christian was inane. Ana came across as dull and weak while Christian sounded like a terrifying boyfriend who would harm you if you didn’t obey him. The sex was not realistic sex between two people and it came across as unemotional and vacant, like EL James has no idea what real sex is like, most especially not BDSM.
Tumblr has Fifty Shades of Suck and it’s great. 😀
I love Robin Schone’s work for erotic novels and Lisa Kleypas and Julie Garwood for romance. Eloisa James is also a favourite of mine.
Anyone read Sylvia Day’s Crossfire series? I’ve read some of her historical erotic novels and I liked a lot of them.
I think he has a nice face but i get him and channing tatum mixed up. I love the new superman actor guy you know the english one. so hot
There are very few American actors I’m attracted to, but Garrett’s one of them. I think turning this role down was a good choice. But he’s made some bad ones along the way too…ever watched Eragon? He looks much better blonde.
Since Garrett and Alex were the main contenders and Ian is out of the question, I’m thinking they just want a guy that is 6 feet tall and blonde. It doesn’t seem like many famous guys want the part. (Although I don’t blame them.) They may have to cast someone we haven’t heard of.
Is CG brunette or blonde? Since so far I only know CG is a pretty man, I’m just gonna throw a shaved Ashton Kuthcher here. I don’t like him but he can be pretty when he is cleaned up. And I can imagine him being a jerk. Or maybe that Tom Welling from Smallville or Gabriel Aubry. Ok that’s all I have.
The Story of O is much better than Fifty Shades.
Agreed. The Story of O is haunting. 50 Shades is just too boring. I could go more than 100 pages into it before putting it aside. I put it into a “free books” box at work because I knew I would never pick it up again.
Christian Grey is suppose to be dark skinned, dark haired, steel blue eyes – in the book, he has hispanic ancestry. Dying an actor’s hair isn’t going to be good enough. The movie won’t be any good b/c they’ll have to censor all the good stuff and that’s the entired guts and draw of the books, so why bother?