Universal Pictures and Focus Features announced today that Charlie Hunnam will no longer play Christian Grey in Fifty Shades of Grey.
"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 studio said in a statement.
He was going to star opposite Dakota Johnson and Jennifer Ehle in the August 1, 2014 release, to be directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson. The film will be based on E L James’ #1 bestselling book. Fifty Shades of Grey has been adapted into a screenplay by Kelly Marcel. Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti are producing the movie version alongside Ms. James.
Source: Coming Soon
"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 studio said in a statement.
He was going to star opposite Dakota Johnson and Jennifer Ehle in the August 1, 2014 release, to be directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson. The film will be based on E L James’ #1 bestselling book. Fifty Shades of Grey has been adapted into a screenplay by Kelly Marcel. Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti are producing the movie version alongside Ms. James.
Source: Coming Soon
Oh, thank goodness. Charlie deserves a real leading role in an action blockbuster or some psychological thriller, not some creepy mommy porn.
ReplyDeleteBest news ever, can't work out why he ever said yes to begin with tbh :s
ReplyDeleteAnd fans of the series who hated the casting choice in the first place are cheering I'm sure!
ReplyDeleteNever read the series myself, but I was intrigued at seeing Hunnam in a very un-Jax-like role...
Have you ever watch Queer as Folk? Having only ever seen him in that a kids show Byker Grove, SoA was a bit of a shock! lol
ReplyDeleteI was looking foward to him, actually.
ReplyDeleteHe wasn´t my first choice so I was kind of mad about that choice, but then I got use to him. I have this weird feeling that they´ll find someone I won´t get used to.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a fan of the series. I only read the first book and I didn't like it but I hate when actors drop out because of fan pressure.
ReplyDeleteRun while you can, Charlie! I'm pretty sure that decision saved you career.
ReplyDeleteI did see him in the role, but I was not a regular watcher of the series. Honestly I hardly recall it.
ReplyDeleteI* do recall how it looked, but not the acting per se...
Real shame, Charlie is smokin' hot.
ReplyDeleteWell, he had in Pacific Rim.
ReplyDeleteyeah but that didn't really do what they wanted it to, they were hoping to spin it into a franchise but i don't think the numbers justify them doing so, and this is from a person who LOVED that movie, but I also understand it's a business with certain expectations to meet fiscally.
ReplyDeleteGood for him. Now for round 1,152 of Matt Bomer for Grey, which I will happily try to avoid. Not easy if you are a White Collar fan.
ReplyDeleteIt was a horrible casting choice. He can play sexy, yes. But he can't play rich, smart and business saavy. Hunnam could use a larger role, but I'm not sure he's ever gonna get there. Jax is a really good part that he can play.
ReplyDeleteI think it'll be hard for every actor who agrees to play the character. I thought he could actually work it out with some changes on his looks. He could have done it and I'm a bit worried that whoever agrees now will drop out too because the fans are really heavy when it comes to this part..
ReplyDeleteYes! And Matt (and Alexis Bledel, too) said he didn't want to do it. People need to respect their choices.
ReplyDeletePacific Rim has earned 400 millon worldwide box office, and is the 10nth highest earning film of the year; chances of a sequel are pretty good!
ReplyDeleteMajor sigh of relief; softcore mom porn shouldn't be a career move for anyone.
ReplyDeleteThe way I understand it is, that most of that money was internationally earned and not domestic, domestic is what they really look at in terms of evaluating whether or not they want to make a sequel or not, studios want to see their return on a venture as soon as possible they really hate to watch things eke out, especially since it was not already part of a franchise. I hope it does get a sequel though, so fingers crossed.
ReplyDeleteExactly.
ReplyDeletePacific Rim was considered to be a a flop by most standards and critics in America. Not many blockbusters earn 3 times as much overseas than in the US market.
The US distributors will not make any money until the home viewing revenues come in. Studios don't look fondly on that! XD
Considering a few years down the road how much more expensive the budget would be to make a sequel, and considering how very few sequels gross more than the original film, a sequel is at best uncertain.
Wait, what?! Effing Hollywood, I swear! Yet there's never been a live action Wonder Woman, Flash or Justice League movie, life is so unfair sometimes.
ReplyDeleteI hate it that people have started to call this crappy book mommy porn. Some moms have good sex and enjoy real, intelligent erotica as well as other types of literature. Fifty shades is for dumb teenagers who´ve never had a real orgasm in their lives. There´s nothing creepy about the book, except for the fact that it somehow managed to get published AND become a best seller.
ReplyDeleteThis role could easily become toxic for anyone's career. Since Matt Bomer is on the rise, he is wise to skip it.
ReplyDeleteIt got dubbed that by the media according to key demographic that was buying the book. And the book is VERY creepy because it doesn't understand the BDSM lifestyle that it poorly imitates as well as glamorize childhood sexual abuse. Not to mention the relationship between Ana and Christian displays all 15 markers of an abusive relationship (just like Bella and Edward). I know more adult women who are obsessed with 'Twilight' than the so called teenage fangirls.
ReplyDeleteWhat I wanted to say with it was, he already starred in an action blockbuster and wasn´t able to pull off a hit, so maybe that´s why they released him from the contract, especially since the fans of the book want someone else.
ReplyDeleteWoah!
ReplyDelete