I keep hoping that we’ll get some new 50 Shades of Grey casting news any day now. Maybe today? Hopefully. Hopefully this week. Considering the production is supposed to start next week, I would hope that they get a signed contract soon. But until then, 50 Shades producers are playing the expectations game. Remember when EL James wanted Garrett Hedlund or Robert Pattinson or someone A-list or at the very least, solid B-list? Yeah. That was a pipe dream (the mother of all pipe dreams, as it turns out). Now producers are quietly going around to media outlets, claiming that what the Christian Grey role really, really needs now is a “fresh face”. Hahahaha.

The movie producer Michael De Luca was at Monday’s Hollywood Film Awards to accept a filmmaking prize, but he didn’t spend the early part of the evening celebrating. Instead, the veteran found himself being grilled about “Fifty Shades of Grey,” the E.L. James adaptation he’s producing, and how the project was faring after losing leading man Charlie Hunnam.

De Luca — who joked he’d been asked about “Fifty Shades” roughly “247 times” on the red carpet — wouldn’t comment on reports that actors Billy Magnussen and Jamie Dornan are the top contenders to step into the Christian Grey role. He did say, however, that he was adamant a newcomer would be best to star opposite Dakota Johnson, who has already been cast as Anastasia Steele.

“I feel like everyone has an idea of what these characters look like and sound like, so to present the world with fresh faces — where no pre-conceived notions or baggage come with it — is best,” he said. “It’s like casting Superman or James Bond. A fresh face is appropriate.”

Johnson, 24, remains on board. As for how the actress, daughter of Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson, is handling the casting shake-up, De Luca said she remained eager to get on set, and he expressed confidence in her ability to play the sexually awakened Steele.

“I happen to think Dakota could have chemistry with a mailbox,” the producer said, adding that filming was still slated to begin Nov. 13. “But we’re going to help her out and hook her up with the right person.”

[From The LAT]

“To present the world with fresh faces… is best.” Especially when no one with any kind of name, profile or hope for career longevity wants to touch this part. Especially when producers have already offered the role to a half-dozen “name” actors, only to be rebuffed. Especially when the paycheck is so meager – Charlie Hunnam was only getting $125,000 for 50 Shades. Think about that. Also: “It’s like casting Superman or James Bond. A fresh face is appropriate.” HAHAHAHAHAHA.

Speaking of Charlie, he gave his first post-tap-out interview to E! News a few nights ago. Now his story is no longer “scheduling conflicts,” which everyone knew was BS from the beginning. Now he claims he dropped out because of “family issues”. Which could totally be the case, but why not say that from the beginning?

Charlie Hunnam is clearing the air. The Sons of Anarchy actor exclusively broke his silence to E! News after stepping down from the role of Christian Grey in the film adaptation of Fifty Shades of Grey. The Hollywood hunk made his first public appearance since the news broke at the 2nd annual “Hogs for Heart” event benefiting One Heart Source Education Programs in Africa at Mo’s Restaurant in Burbank, Calif. Charlie joined his SOA cast members as they hosted the evening’s festivities.

So how is he holding up since dropping out of the highly anticipated flick?

“I am doing good. I am just really concentrating on work. It’s been a really busy time,” he said. “I have had some family stuff going on so just trying to stay focused and stay positive and keep trying to do a good job at work and be with my family and stay positive.”

E! News has learned that Charlie’s father, Billy, had passed away in May of this year and that the actor traveled back to England to be with family at the time. Charlie’s currently wrapping up season six of the hit FX series and explained what he plans on doing before his final days as Jax Teller.

“Like I said, I’ve got some family stuff I have to tend to. So when I wrap the show, I am going to go to England and see my people and then I have a film that I am doing with Guillermo [del Toro]. So I am going to go and do that and concentrate on the final seasons of Sons.”

[From E! News]

He says more stuff about the charity event and it’s very nice and I buy that he has a good heart. But I still think there’s something sketchy going on with him. I didn’t know that his father had recently passed away, and if he feels like he needs to spend time with his family, then so be it and I think everyone understands that. What I don’t understand is why he didn’t take that into consideration before he signed on to play Christian Grey? There are conspiracies within conspiracies on this one.

Photos of Charlie and Jamie Dornan (the leading contender for Christian Grey), courtesy of WENN and Calvin Klein.