Oooooh, this is interesting. Charlie Hunnam has pulled out (“pulled out”) of 50 Shades of Grey. I was in the minority by thinking that Charlie was actually one of the better choices for Christian Grey, spanking pervert extraordinaire, but Charlie’s casting upset the large majority. Fans of Charlie and fans of Sons of Anarchy thought he was “above” such petty smut and fans of 50 Shades of Grey thought he was simply all wrong for the character. And now I’ve got to wonder… what really happened?
Sons of Anarchy star Charlie Hunnam will no longer play Christian Grey in the film version of Fifty Shades of Grey. According to a statement from the studios behind the film, “The filmmakers of FIFTY SHADES OF GREY and Charlie Hunnam have agreed to find another male lead given Hunnam’s immersive TV schedule which is not allowing him time to adequately prepare for the role of Christian Grey.”
The season 6 finale of FX’s Sons of Anarchy began shooting Oct. 11, one day before Universal Pictures and Focus Features made the announcement. Fifty Shades of Grey is due to hit theaters Aug. 1, 2014.
Fifty Shades of Grey author E L James responded briefly on Twitter: “I wish Charlie all the best. x,” she wrote. (It’s unclear whether her tweet 17 minutes before that one was related: “Okay girls and boys – hold on to your hats – it’s about to get serious…”)
Hunnam spoke to EW about the film for the Sons of Anarchy cover story now on newsstands: “There are so many fans of that book and I know that on the surface, I’m probably not what everybody imagined,” the actor admitted. “Because reading is so personal and people bring a character to life in their imagination, they feel ownership over that character. That’s daunting if I allowed myself to think about it too much. I’m taking it very seriously and intend to explore the nature of who this character is, what motivates him — and also dress up nice and look good in those suits.”
Some may believe this poorly executed cover story of “scheduling conflicts.” Some may believe that the crazy 50 Shades fan-girls were really getting to him and he began to wonder if he really was a good choice. Some may believe that Charlie merely came to his senses and realized that no amount of spanking, boning and handcuffing is worth this crazy journey to becoming a “movie star”. And some people believe, like me, that Charlie didn’t want to eat salads for the next three months.
Hidden conspiracy theory: maybe they just now did the full-frontal screen test and Charlie wasn’t up to par, so to speak?
Photos courtesy of WENN.
I’m with everybody in saying that he’s just realised that this would wreck his filming career. Nobody would touch him after that. So it’s a very wise move on Charlie’s part
Ditto.
Also, maybe he got the first draft and realized it was complete shit.
Also, $10 says they have a hard time casting the role.
I don’t think they’ll have a hard time casting the role. They might not get their dream guy but there are a lot of entertainers who subscribe to the ‘any press is good press’ notion…
Just curious — are there other movies that were considered total disasters before they were made but ended up being a huge success? Could that happen w/50 shades?
@Emmie, yes, ‘Titanic’ was considered a huge white elephant…until it became the most successful movie of all time.
@emmie – Yes there a LOADS of absolute shit books that have been turned into amazing movies. It can definitely happen to 50 shades too.
Lindy: No way! I didn’t know that about Titanic… I’m so out-of-it when it comes to movie gossip. thanks!
@Lindy But 50 Shades of Grey isn’t no Titanic. This movie is border line abuse and porn.
@Emmie – Titanic was a huge, huge gamble, but for very different reasons. It was ridiculously expensive and a long, long grueling shoot. But as mu as people snickered about the sinking boat movie, its the very things that made the movie a joke that made it successful – James Cameron’s crazy attention to detail and realism. He may be a dick, but he’s a great filmmaker. The problem with 50 Shades is that it’s got an uphill battle considering how crappy the source material is, and the fact that it’s got a pretty negative perception. It’s possible for them to make a good movie ot of this mess, but not probable. Especially considering how heavily involved the author is.
Ian Somerhalder is ready for his closeup!
Ian as Christian Grey: “Draw Me Like One of Your French Boys, Ana!”
I recall some of the things that were being said while Titanic was filming:
“It’s $50 million over budget! Oh my God!
It’s 4 months behind schedule! Oh no! What are we going to do?!
No one is going to go to theatres to see this bomb-waiting-to happen!
The movie is too long & no one will sit through it. They’re going to show it in 2 parts: one before the sinking, one after!”
& you see how it turned out.
But 50 Shades of Grey is not Titanic.
Titanic being way over budget and schedule was one of the things that helped its box office success. It is one of my all-time favorite films, but it was originally scheduled to open on July 2, 1997. Obviously, the film wasn’t even finished by then and it was moved to December 17.
It is an extraordinary film, but I don’t know if it would have been No. 1 for 15 weeks if it had opened during the highly competitive summer season. Plus, opening it at Christmas also put it in the forefront of awards season, which didn’t hurt either.
Titanic going ‘overboard’ so-to-speak on its schedule/budget actually helped it become the behemoth it is.
I still remember that it was the most expensive film ever made at the time, and before its release, it was compared to “Heaven’s Gate,” which is universally recognized at the biggest flop ever.
Of course, this has nothing to do with 50 Shades …. it could have a big opening weekend, but I don’t see it winning any awards or breaking any records.
Yup. I think he got wrapped up in the idea of having the lead role in a movie based on popular books. Fortunately, he came to his senses.
And thank goodness for that.
I agree. This could be his smartest move ever. Only time will tell for sure though.
+1
+1
I agree.
I’m so glad he backed out of this project. I think Charlie has real potential as an actor. He’s built a career on no-holds-barred sex scenes, but none of it has been vapid soft core porn. He’s growing up, though, and eventually he’ll have to make it on talent, alone, which I think he can do, but not if he gets the label of a vacuous beefcake.
James Bond, Casino Royal, there was in internet fan campaign against Daniel Craig’s casting – He was “too blonde” was one of the sillier objections – then he turned out to be one of the best Bond’s ever (IMHO)
+1
As badly as he wants that movie career, he must have realized he would be paying too much for it. What is he, Robert Pattinson? I can’t even begin to explain how happy I am about this!!!
I don’t think the official story holds water. Everyone had to be aware of the SOA shooting schedule when he was hired. Isn’t he still involved with Crimson Peak that is supposed to film in the New Year?
Hollywood Reporter is claiming that they’ve had two sources say that he got “cold feet” about the role (was majorly put off by the attention it garnered, how when he promoted SoA-50 Shades dominated the questions-no pun there, and supposedly the studio hired bodyguards for him?) and some online speculate it’s due to the shake up of management at Focus Features.
Either way, there is more to this story then is being reported. Who knows what happened?
“Hollywood Reporter is claiming that they’ve had two sources say that he got “cold feet” about the role (was majorly put off by the attention it garnered, how when he promoted SoA-50 Shades dominated the questions-no pun there, and supposedly the studio hired bodyguards for him?)”
I believe this. He got scared by the cray cray fans.
Yes I agree with you. Plus I read somewhere a little after they announced he would play CG that the studio had offered him the role along time ago but he turned them down. They came back to him again and he took it. So he had cold feet in the beginning I think.
I don’t think there is “more to the story” at all. Charlie just decided he didn’t want to be Robert Pattenson with all the cray-cray fans that would bring into his life. I also think he had a few talks with some of his co-stars of SOA and was probably surprised at their reactions. This is NOT a film an actor with aspirations needs on his resume. This movie could wreck his career because no producer or studio would ever take him seriously again and I can’t imagine a good director would want to work with him. This sh!t is just p0rn. Charlie decided to drop out before it was too late. There is always a time limit whereby an actor can drop out of a movie without any penalty and I think he decided to take advantage of that.
I don’t think they will have a hard time getting someone else but it will be someone unknown that the fangirls won’t like either because no one good will agree to this thing.
Hard to get someone else? I dunno man, this role has Justin Timberlake written all over it.
@Bettyrose it’s so horrible, it’s perfect.
@bettyrose, yes, yes, yes!
Great PR move – blame it on “scheduling issues”. Neither party looks stupid.
Ian come back…the role is yours!
Agree! Ian Somerhalder belongs on the cover of 80s romance novels and in this movie. He’s so good looking it’s cheesy.
Gorgeous eyes and mediocre acting chops. Meh…
My theory: not only did they want to lock him into a contract that owned him for the duration of all three movies (which could mean five years), but they wanted to hook him up in a fauxmance with a co-star. Hunnan, having actual talent and career prospects, chose not to become Sparkles #2.
Ah, excellent deductions, Watson. Good call on his part.
T.Fanty knows 🙂
+1
I completely agree with this T!
@T.Fanty no lies detected.
Ooooh….that is a good point T.Fanty. I never thought about that. Charlie already has a longtime girlfriend too.
Oh snap T. Fanty. Right on.
Good theory. Personally, I’m very relieved he dropped this project. I’ve never seen him as the cash-grabby, famewhorey celebrity type who jumps at roles like this, so imagine my surprise when he took the job.
Well said, and probably the most logical explanation. Heh heh, I wonder if Ian Somerhalder is thinking, ‘Pleeeeeeeze let this be a sign from the cosmos. Pick me, pick meeeeeeeeeeee!’
Not having read the books, Ian has a vibe that I think would be perfect. And yes, I thought this, too, as soon as I heard that Charlie had back out of filming. lol
@T.Fanty — I think your theory makes complete sense.
Plus he probably didn’t want to be handcuffed to the series or spanked by the critics or choked by the schedule.
I see what you are doing there. : )
Liberty – I’m going to print that quote and carry it around with me for a few days.
great theory. Can’t fool Celebitchies!
He was probably freaked out by the publicity, but this kind of behavior is no good for his reputation. He looks real bad putting a production in jeopardy so close to its start date.
Agree. I think it’s great that he’s not involve anymore but to me dropping out now is such a wimpy move. Man-up, Charlie! I thought you have decided already!
I don’t know-since this isn’t exactly a hot property and it has no respected names attached to it (Sam Taylor-Wood has an okay rep, but she’s not a A list director) and it is largely considered a joke, so I don’t think it’s going to reflect too badly on him. People are probably wondering what took him so long.
I would disagree, only because it is a hot property for actors B/C List looking for a big box office break, which this film will surely provide. Charlie May be a good actor, but he’s not A-List yet and pulling moves like this is out of his league.
I disagree. If you look at it in the context of the fandom and how it will change his life, people will understand. Robert Pattinson’s life really became a nightmare for awhile because of the rabid fans and this franchise looks to do the same. (I think it was during filming of the second movie he basically hid in a box when he wasn’t filming.) I don’t think most people would blame him for wanting to avoid that kind of potentially life-endangering attention.
Best move Charlie could have made! I may eat my words, but I think whoever ends up as the leads in this movie, will have a great career on Dancing With The Stars in a few years!
Interesting. You’d think that he’d know what he was getting himself into.
We’ll see who takes his place. Still hoping for Matt Bomer or Skars though (PLEASE NO IAN SOMERHALDER). Some unknown hottie works for me too.
Why not Ian? I mean, he wants this shitty role, so why don’t they just give it to him?
Keep dreaming! They will end up with a no name. This is a super busy time of year and things are carefully coordinated. Scheduling conflicts my foot, unless his TV show had some major disaster at worst they’d be a week behind. That Ian person will be locked into his TV show until the spring. Matt Bomer is filming an HBO movie and one other project as I recall. Their choices for a new lead this late will be VERY limited unless they push the movie half a year at least. That would cost them millions at this point.
“50 Shades” is a joke punchline now. Charlie H. got great career advice and shows class by backing out.
Matt Bomer has already said he doesn’t even want to be considered for this mess and there is no way Skars will do it.
Please Alex, don’t do this!!!! career suicide!!!
I totally believe Charlie came to his senses not to commit career suicide. I had heard rumors weeks ago that he was reconsidering that role. Good for you Charlie.
I’m not buying the scheduling conflicts. Most studios would find a way to accomodate. Some TV stars have worked on two projects at a time before.
My only glitch in the equation is that…well, this movie was notorious since before it was even in an embryo state. This isnt some unknown indie, or some over-blown-budget mess that changed 3 screenwriters and directors and is not what it was set out to be. How little homework did Charlie’s team actually do?
Exactly, good point.
I almost wonder if it wasn’t Charlie but the movie people who reconsidered when the fans reacted so negatively. Wonder if they already have someone else lined up but wanted to wait until the last minute so they couldn’t give the fans time to react so strongly. Conspiracy theories abound….
I wondered this, too. With the way that the Twilight fans became so huge, a studio probably would keep tabs on the current fandom. And a lot of the fandom didn’t like Charlie for the role. Fans not liking the lead choice = less people seeing the movie = less money for the people wanting to make money.
PR Dictionary
Scheduling Conflicts: Actually read the script.
Dehydration and Exhaustion: Rehab.
Irreconcilable Differences: Hated each other since Date 2.
He’s done nude scenes before so I don’t think it was that what made him dropout. Like I said before, he realised it would wreck his career. Plus he probably read the books and found out what utter nonsense it was.
Whoever becomes Christian Grey can kiss goodbye to their career and just be that man who did simulated sex on screen for a rubbish book
I think all the backlash over the choice got the best of him. Maybe we should go back when we didn’t know every detail of an upcoming movie? He may have been perfect, we’ll never know.
Good move on his part. This seems the type of role that will forever typecast or completely torpedo one’s career. Get someone who has nothing to lose, like a certain Mr. Cibrian. That may be a role where he could actually be convincing.
Yeppers! Can you imagine LR being on the set watching every move EC would make? Who knows maybe EC would finally show some acting talent.
Yay! Raleigh’s been freed! I have mad respect for Charlie for pulling out of this crap whole. He’s now at the top of my forever dong list; can’t wait for Pacific Rim 2!
I think it was Michael K on DListed who said the reason he dropped out was, “he finally got around to reading the book. “
That book was such rubbish! good for him for coming to his senses!
Michael K said they should replace him with this guy:
http://dlisted.com/2013/10/11/one-hundred-percent-pure-purple-sex/
LOL! He juggled between Pacific Rim (a MUCH more massive blockbuster) and Sons of Anarchy alright, now please his people should come up with a better excuse…
I really don’t care why–just glad he did and I think later on down the road, he will be really glad he pulled out.
Glad, he pulled out. I never found him perfect for Christian Grey character. He looks too old for a 28 year old Christian. He looked no more older than a 40 year old. Plus he doesn’t have a good jaw and body like C Grey. Glad he left this project.
Have you ever seen Sons of Anarchy? He has done nearly nude and certainly full back nudity and his body is magnificent, so I am certain that wasn’t the cause.
Either way, I think he’s got good reason not to do the movie, but accepting the role, has put the production in jeopardy and will cost the studio money. Not a good thing to do as a jobbing actor.
I have to agree with Kaiser. I think Charlie is a nice looking guy but he’s not exactly svelte. I believe he said recently, for the public not to worry about his body, that he would be fully in shape by the time filming started. That sounds like someone who was told to slim down and get rid of the bulges. Don’t think he was that into the movie to begin with, just latched on it because he wanted that one role to give him stardom…he realized this wasn’t the one after all and coupled with the needed body changes, he decided, to hell with it. Actors pull out of movies all the time, this will not hurt in HW.
@free-spirited girl: Charlie is only 33 or so and has done some nudity on SOA. He has a great body.
I’m thinking he was actually let go and not that he pulled out. I think the producers bowed to fan pressure. And the story is just to save face for Charlie. That said, I think he’s better off because this will be the sh1ttiest movie in history.
No, he wasn’t let go and if we was it certainly wasn’t due to fan pressure. These are professionals and this departure jepordizes the production and will cost! Big time. Plus in spite of the online weirdos who would waste their time on petitions, the in real life weirdos were sending him crap and necessitated hiring bodyguards. If anything, the freaks who wanted him in the role scared him off. He’s about the highest level they could have hoped for. I am laughing thinking about the options (the real options) for a replacement!
Now all we need is for the rest of the cast, the producers, the director and the studio to all pull out! This move does not need to be made. Bad enough it got published.
I laughed so hard when I found out. They probably kept the entire script a secret until after he got the part, and it was that idiotic he had to say no.
Charlie being cast in 50 Shades is the only reason I might want to check it out when the movie is released. Even if they happen to get an unknown actor (who could trigger curiosity, and whom they can mold into anything they like), I probably wouldn’t be interested.
This said, I tend to agree with some posters above, Charlie exiting just before they start shooting doesn’t look good on him. But this happens quite often in other movies, so… oh well.
Anyway, I feel sorry for both Sam Taylor-Johnson and Dakota Johnson, especially Sam.
This movie is going to make alot of money regardless of who they cast. Just on sheer curiosity factor, and despite it being so damn horrible, the books sold by the millions. Look at twilight. Horrible acting, cheesy all around, etc. Yet it was a box office hit. I liked charlie for the role. Even though it wasn’t an obvious choice, I think he would have made the role interesting at least. Ian would not be right based on his girly flushed rosy cheeks alone. Matt is gay and it would be hard to maintain the suspension of disbelief on the audiences part. Who else was in the running? I wonder if they’re going to get a no name like Robert Pattinson and make him famous.
Not necessary true umyeah. If the film is NRC-17 for the sex scene, not many people will see it in cinemas and there’s a great stigma for the rating. If the film is making as a R, many fans will upset and the story is so ridiculous to sell it as a “drama”. Yes, Twilight made a lot of money, but remember, it was a “teen” film with a better market and facilities.
Also, not always the best sellers have success in film. For every Twilight and Hunger Games we have a countless YA adaptations that fail at box office. Also, the recent criticism online (Fair or unfair) of the book -Remarking the book as a perfect guide of a pedophile” and “the backwards of feminism” can be toxic (Just ask Mortal Instruments).
Finally the erotic thriller is a wounded genre in Hollywood. After the Zalman King productions and Basic Instinct, we have other failures like Sliver and Body of Evidence. Recently, with the height of Internet porn and cable soft porn productions, only “acclaimed” foreign erotic thrillers made it at box office in limited release -Black Book, Lust Caution, Lady Chatterley- as a arthouse hits.
The Twilight movies made a lot of money because of their mixed demographic: tweens, teens, and some mothers.
50 Shades of Grey is one of those movies that you see alone, most likely with a hat and sunglasses so nobody can recognize you, and you don’t tell anyone else that you saw it.
I just don’t see this movie having hordes of screaming 20-somethings and mothers coming out in big groups to see it, and confidently showing themselves screaming and grinning at cameras covering the premiere while holding up placards and books like what happened with Hunger Games and Twilight.
Fans are vocal on the internet but they’re acting with the anonymity of the web. I don’t think they would be as loud in support when it’s time to truly see the movie.
“50 Shades of Grey is one of those movies that you see alone, most likely with a hat and sunglasses so nobody can recognize you, and you don’t tell anyone else that you saw it.”
LOL, that’s so funny! Thanks for the good laugh for this evening :)))
I think what really happened is that he realized that the paycheck wasn’t worth the risk of being marginalized in his profession. I’m just glad he saw the light and extricated himself from this trash. May it die a slow, painful death in development hell.
Maybe he was planning on pulling out all along. The announcement of his casting alone got him in the news and got his name out there (I have known about him for a while and I think he is quite talented) but with just the announcement his name was in all the papers. Now he has pulled out – got the publicity without actually starring in the horrible film. Win win.
Great analysis! I could totally see that being his diabolical plan all along lol
😛
I just don’t understand why he agreed in the first place. He claimed to have read the books. Lol. I’m glad he’s not doing the film but what a lack of judgement to begin with. I wonder what will happen to Dakota Johnson since they allegedly had great chemistry. They need to just pull the plug on this disaster.
I think he finally realized what trash the story is and decided to be busy. Hopefully a better script will come his way. Let’s face it, he is just too good to be in that movie.
Damn that boy is hot. That’s all I have to say.
I think it’s futile and they shouldn’t make the movie. They’re not going to be able to get another decent actor. It’s just going to be a huge bomb.
Unfortunately, I doubt it. The Twilight books were excruciating but they made enormous money in print and on film.
Again, Twilight has a wider demography and didn’t have the stigma of “sex” and NRC-17 behind. Internet fanatism is different than real fanatism. Also, where was the last time that an erotic thriller have success on box office?
I always thought it would find the most success as a cable series, ala True Blood. You can be as N17 as you want, and people can watch this soft porn in the privacy of their own homes.
I agree. I think if this book is going to make a successful adaption to the screen it would be via a cable miniseries. The movie will not be as risque as the book fans expect it to be, cable can allow for that.
I believe Sylvia Day’s Crossfire series is being adapted to cable.
Charlie you had me scared when you ventured into that 50 shades neighborhood, you are out safe now. Gemma isn’t the only mom who worries about our boy Jax.
Why do I silently giggle every time I read the words, “Charlie pulled out.”
I blame it on the fact I’m the Mom of a teen boy. Geez, I’m immature this morning!
I enjoyed the books, they entertained me, I’ll likely see the movie with many of my friends who were entertained as well. Heck, the hubby’s will shove us out the door, they benefit in the end. 😉
I think they should get a no name actor, they are all waiters in and around LA, there should be plenty to choose from.
I’m glad Charlie pulled out just in time too 🙂 🙂
Good move on Charlie’s part. I like to think he wised up. And to those who think he’s not svelte or buff, obviously you don’t watch SoA. He is in incredible shape and has a beautiful body. Nothing to be ashamed of there.
I agree. My daughter lives in Hollywood and goes to the same gym as Charlie. She said he’s been working out a lot more than usual. They were chatting in the sauna, and from what she says, he’s really yummy in person.
Scheduling conflicts is an obvious lie. As previously said tv shows have set schedules months in advance, with plenty of scripts. There’s no reason for there to be conflicts. I feel like this movie won’t be made. Too many delays because people (actors, directors, etc) will drop in and out. I haven’t read the book but based on excerpts it’s just a really bad book not controversial.
Whatever the reason, it’s a good move. This movie will be complete crap, like the books. It will help no one’s career.
I read the books after he was announced as the lead. God it was so hard to get through them, they were terrible. But I pictured him as I read everything and I think he would have been fantastic in the role, just perfect. I am a SOA fan so maybe thats why I feel that way. Anyway its prob a good career choice to drop out.
How on earth did you make it through all three? I read ten pages of the first in the bookstore and practically threw it back on the shelf. The writing was so bad it almost made my back teeth hurt.
Praise dance. Hunnam is fairly talented, bulks up well and at certain angles, looks like a young Brad Pitt. He’ll be fine. He cancelled the apocalypse on his career. LOLz forever, Still cracking up over here.
Dodged a bullet…No, more like Dodged Some Buckshot!
Anyone that watches SoA knows the issue is NOT is he sexy enough! He has no issue with nudity or sex scenes, and he does a hell of a job with them! lol
The conspiracy theory is also stupid and well there is evidence that he is just as gifted as the next proud of his penis man.
I am glad he got out.
I think the role of a sexual sadist requires something more than beefcake.
I’m a SOA fan, but not because of Hunnam. I don’t find him anything much on the show either. I preferred Opie over the character of Jax – in terms of character, but more so the portrayal.
Hunnam is a b-grade actor.
Easy, he wised up. Good move.
I agree with posters above who question if this move 100% Charlie- after all, he had to know the subject matter bef he signed on, and surely would have read the script bef now. If his feet were that cold, why sign in the first place? I think his age may be a factor- he’s what, 32/33? So his window to recover from a fiasco is smaller than say someone in his mid 20s. Wish they would go with an unknown- guess we’ll see.
I have to say, I’m confused about this news: I’m not sure, if I’m happy about it, or no.
I didn’t want to see this movie, until I found out he’s paying Grey. I got used to this cast and to the thought, that I will have to wear Zorro mask to go to the cinema, so no one would recignize me, but I’ll see this movie because of him.
I know it’s better choice to get out of this crap, but I kind of wanted to see him as Grey :/
+1000
I’ll probably never see it now, but I kind of wanted to see Charlie. I haven’t read the book 50 shades…. I’m just saying.
My guess is he signed on without really knowing and understanding what the film was and what it was all about and he just found out!
I don’t know why he left, but I am SO happy he did. He IS better than that crap. I really can’t find the words to describe just how a God awful those book are. Anytime I hear people raving over how great it is I tune them out. And lose respect for them. And want to buy them REAL books so they can remember what a good read actually is. Does that sound harsh? I don’t really care..
This man dodged a bullet.
This is a smart move- he got a ton of publicity when he took the role, and now he’s getting a ton of publicity for leaving the role and the added bonus of respect for recognizing that it’s a crap project. So his “audience awareness” profile is raised without his actual career being harmed.
Charlie Hunnam stars in a huge cable show, was the lead in a summer blockbuster, and has other films lined up. He doesn’t need to become Sparkles.
I have seen some funny comments about Pattinson having called Charlie and telling him to RUN away as fast as he can.
But as crazy-bad as being Edward became for Rob, being Christian Grey would be far worse since it is a joke before it has even started, and is a bad derivative of Twilight.
I think Edward Cullen is not a career-killer, but Christian Grey sounds like it will be.
That’s such an awesomely ridiculous story- love it!! I totally agree- when Twilight was originally cast and filmed, the books weren’t nearly as popular. It was a low budget, slightly indie project, so you could almost forgive the Twilight cast for not knowing what they were signing up for…but this? There’s no excuse here. Any actor who signs up for this has no excuse if it is a cheesy bomb career-ruiner.
I don’t know about that,ctkat. The Twilight books were hugely popular amongst the teen set before the films. I remember my then 18 year old daughter and her friends squeeing about the casting. I recall them being over the moon that Cedric Diggory was playing Edward.
@cynicalsmirk: I think both Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson have said that they didn’t realize how big it would all get when they signed on to the films- this could be them just covering for how much they hated the attention, but it did seem that the whole vibe of the first film was more independent- it was set up at Summit rather than a big studio and was directed by Catherine Hardwicke, who was an independent director. Don’t get me wrong, the first three books were popular when they came out in 2005, 2006, and 2007. They would have to be in order to get a film made. But when the first movie came out in 2008, the books surged in popularity and became the best selling books of 2008. It went from being a popular YA book series during the development of the first film into being this worldwide phenomenon that just took over their lives. I think this is pretty common- I haven’t looked at sales records, but I would bet that the Hunger Games books got more popular once the first movie came out.
He already has a pretty solid fan base from SOA. I think he just realized he will always be Christian Grey after this and has higher career goals. I’m not sure why people didn’t want him for the role though. I think he’s hot as hell!
He was the only reason I would have considered seeing this movie. Never read the books. Heard they were sh!t.
THANK GOD. He absolutely did not need to do this movie; and certainly doesn’t need all the crap that would have come with it. Even if for some strange reason the movie does get made and became a success, he’s still better off for not getting involved in it. The source material is TERRIBLE, the circus surrounding it. Aaargh. He doesn’t need it. Stick with TV, HBO, smaller features, anything but that crap. I cannot for the life of me understand why those books are so popular and I like smutty stories and bodice rippers from the 70s and 80s. The writing is so awful! The characters are ridiculous!
That reminds me: I can’t wait until Gabalon’s Outlander is ready for viewing.
Their first choice for the role turned it down, their second choice turned it down, and now their third choice (Hunnam) bails. What actor with any self-respect is going to want to be associated with the film now?
Three strikes, yer out. Kill the movie.
Wait, who was the first and second?
Not that anything was ever “confirmed” but Garrett H was supposedly offered it, and maybe Gosling(?). How true that is, who knows?
Hollywood Reporter says Gosling and Hedlund passed on it, and Variety says Pattinson passed on it. That’s 3 at least.
finally! yes.
Yup, it’s time to cast Justin Bieber. And have him wear the red hat in the picture where his bodyguard is carrying him away from a fight.
CTFU @ Justin Bieber. But they are going to be so desperate to cast that role, they just might end up casting him.
(I kid, I kid…)
Please Matt Bomer, reconsider turning it down!!! I know it may be career suicide, but I just REALLY want to see you as Christian 🙁
Yep, of all the choices for Christian Grey, Bomer is the one I mostly can picture as the character. Handsome in an almost too pretty way, but with a sort of cold aura. Not that I even got through the first book! Charlie probably finally read them…such terrible writing!
But anyway, happy that neither Charlie, nor Matt are doing this film, I seem to lose a bit of respect for anybody associated with this trash.
As a fan of Matt Bomer, I’m glad he dropped out this trash of film. He deserves better and making this film will be a career suicide. Even seeing naked and looking sexy don’t compensate the risks of this project.
I didn’t know you can drop out of the project after the cast has been announced. I remember Kim Basinger getting sued for backing out Boxing Helena. Perhaps Ben Affleck should follow suit. jk:)
Who is that craggy actor who is ginger and played an American opposite Anna ferris? They were all in London…what was that Rom com? Anyway. That actor is the one for this role
Anna was in a pretty lame rom-com wherein she retraces, so to speak, her past love life- don’t remember a ginger in that, but there was Chris Pine. Is that who you are thinking of?
50 Shades of Grey has Lifetime Original Movie written all over it. They will never get an A-list actor to sign on to the project. And an unknown won’t draw in massive amounts of $$$ at the box office.
Hunnam doesn’t have the right chemistry/charistma to play the role of a sexually sadistic romantic ‘hero’ [for want of a better word]. No I haven’t read the whole 50 Shades series, the sample download was crap enough, but films have to portray more character dynamics than what is depicted on a page.
I’d expect someone like Cillian Murphy or, wait for it…
Ben Whishaw [even though he’s gay] to portray a mind f$$ing sexual sadist lead male.
Reason: This type of character, the sexual sadist, relies on the intellectual kick over the pure sexual and Hunnam doesn’t even give off any intellectual vibes about him.
He is pure beefcake and nothing else.
I don’t even watch Sons of Anarchy because of him. His character of Jax is quite lame. The people who drive that show are Ron Perlman, Katey Sagal and Maggie Siff as the prime actors/movers of the story. The portrayal of Jax is so goodamn wooden.
I like to think that Ron Perlman and Tommy Flanagan took Charlie aside and offered paternal advice about the quality of your work being more important than signing on to something just because it’s a well-known property.
the studios payed him off to bow out. no one in their right mind would miss an opportunity like that!