Fifty Shades of Grey is the gift that keeps on giving. I didn’t mean that in a sexual or gross way at all. I only mean that I could probably write “casting rumor” stories for Christian Grey all day, every day. I’m having fun with it. It’s an excuse to look for pretty pictures of people like Garrett Hedlund and Alex Skarsgard and Jamie Dornan. Jamie and Alex were two of the names we discussed yesterday – The Hollywood Reporter says that they’re both in contention for Grey now that Charlie is tapped out. Alex already has a major scheduling conflict, so don’t put too much effort into wishing this role on him. Jamie Dornan seems like a decent lead, but you never know – he might not want to get sullied by it either. Meanwhile, the British papers seem to think that director Sam Taylor-Johnson is now making a last-minute appeal for her husband and young lovah, Aaron Taylor Johnson:
Matt Bomer is the bookies’ favourite to replace Charlie Hunnam in the hotly anticipated Fifty Shades of Grey film – but director Sam Taylor-Wood has got her eye on hubbie Aaron Taylor-Johnson taking the lead role instead.
Hunnam dropped out of the 50 Shades film – based on EL James’ racy novel – on Saturday, citing a ‘busy schedule’ as the reason behind not wanting to strip off on screen as sex-obsessed Christian Grey. But while White Collar star Bomer is now being tipped to replace the 33-year-old actor, the director of the film has got other ideas and doesn’t seem to mind her man getting steamy in front of the lens with another woman.
‘Aaron was one of the original choices but the concern was that Sam would have difficulty directing her own husband and that Aaron would feel uncomfortable,’ a source said.
‘This is Sam’s biggest project to date and having no lead secured yet is unsettling.’
But despite other commitments Aaron might have, it seems 50 Shades bosses will do anything to secure him. The source added to The Sun: ‘Having her husband by her side makes sense, even if it could be awkward at times. Aaron is in pre-production for the movie The Avengers: Age Of Ultron, but they can easily work around the scheduling. He’s beefed up his body too. The whole project has been pushed back.’
Aside from Bomer, other actors in with a shot of being cast as Grey include Ian Somerhalder, Chace Crawford, Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper and Liam Hemsworth.
I’m not sure what they’re talking about with the schedule for The Avengers: Age of Ultron. That doesn’t start production until next year, and if Aaron signed on for Fifty Shades, the start date would still be the beginning of November. (Incidentally, Aaron is playing Quicksilver in The Avengers, just FYI.) So, would Aaron do it? For some reason, I think it could be a possibility, but only because the speculation seems to be dragging out and Sam really might want to turn to someone she trusts, like her husband. But! I think Aaron sees himself as a proper actor, not unlike Garrett Hedlund, and he has no interest in becoming some Sparkly Softcore Celebrity.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
“Sam really might want to turn to someone she trusts” – or, you know, the only person she could conceivably force/beg to do this.
I think that’s very likely. I don’t find him attractive and I don’t think there is anything about him that says Christian Grey. And he has said that he will not do the part and his job will be caring for the kids while the Mrs. works. I do think he is talented and definitely does not need to do this role. But I wouldn’t be surprised, if they are having trouble finding someone, that Sam would convince him to do it. I just hope he doesn’t.
He can do better
Agreed! He can do much better—he has talent and good onscreen presence. Build your career on your own, Aaron! Don’t let nepotism do it for you!
If he’s Quicksilver in the next Avengers movie, you can bet his people are begging him not to do this. That movie is the huge get and they’re not going to want him stuck with this 50 shades crap for the next 5 years.
Pretty much. A marvel property is a big get. His agents must be telling him hell no. Don’t do it Aaron! This has poison written all over it.
Methinks this was the plan all along.
Indubitably!!!!
On another note, those effing chin pubes…where’s Johnny Knoxville with a well timed clipper set??
This is the same feeling I get.
I feel it is the opposite, his casting will be the last workaround.
i said this yesterday and got trolled by the creepy director and her creepy child-husband
I think he’s a better actor than this, but .. Wouldn’t it be weird that his wife is directing him in this movie?
I love his curly hair..
You might get to see a lot more of that curly hair!
He looks like a completely different person in that last pic. A lot more doable
I don’t understand why everyone is acting like Hunam dropping out will be a career-killer. Who would want their name attached to this shit-show?? Just cast James Deen and get it over with.
Lmao that’s totally the way to go in my opinion.
This. When A-List and some B-List actors like Ryan Gosling, Henry Cavill, Matt Bomer, Robert Pattinson, Garrett Hendlund and Charlie Hunnam rejected the role and the only potential “candidate” is Ian Somenhalder, Focus needs to low the expectations.
Actually James Deen is a good choice. He’s handsome, not afraid to sex scenes, can make a malicious prick -Actually his role in The Canyons is a pre Christian Grey- and he has nothing to lose to make this trashy film -In terms of prestige or credibility as a serious actor-. James Deen is the only reasonable suggestion.
ha, that’s the best suggestion I’ve heard yet.
He may be able to do better, but I was thinking Jimmy Dormody from Boardwalk Empire (Michael Pitt) but I haven’t read the book so what do I know.
I might watch the actual NC-17 version
God no, James Deen is too much of a sex god to play Christian Grey!
I’d never heard of “James Deen,” until I decided to google him after listening to everyone over at Jezebel get all hot for him. I can’t, for the life of me, understand why a feminist blog would laud such a pretentious pig. I’m no purveyor of porn (because its boring and focused on the male gaze and presenting unrealistic ideals of what a woman should look like and what she should do), So it was particularly confusing to me as to why women think he’s the bees knees. He’s perpetuating the problem (and he’s quite unattractive). Plus, I’m no fan of teen mom Farrah, but he seemed quite disrespectful of her after they shot their “film” together. He makes me sick.
Mort –
I posted a negative comment the last time this guy came up. I think he’s garbage for fighting against an LA inititative to require condom useage in porn. Women are much more vulnerable in contracting STDs, so I think he’s a selfish prick, pandering to the men who think their porn will be less enjoyable.
I’ve been thinking the same thing.
Yes. That is all
My personal opinion is that anyone taking a role in the proposed 50 Shades film might as well throw their career in a hole and shovel dirt over it.
Agreed. Although that makes me wonder…by directing it, is Sam T-J doing the same thing?
Please god no. Its bad enough that STW is directing, WHY????? Please don’t pair up this pretentious smug couple on this film.
^^this
On the plus side, if they do both do it, it might just be bad enough to destroy the pair of them permanently.
If this mess has given nothing else, it never fails to give me a chuckle when more A/B list names who wouldn’t touch it with someone elses are associated with it.
James Deen FTW!
By the looks of things, people won’t know who’s playing Christian Grey until opening day.
Wait! That’s marketing genius! You won’t know who you’re seeing naked until you get there. Surprise, it’s Danny Devito! 😉
Seriously though what idiot wrote that article? Gosling and Cooper have a shot at being cast? The producers would sacrifice their first born to get either one! Journalists should not be that naive…or easily bought.
“Wait! That’s marketing genius! You won’t know who you’re seeing naked until you get there. Surprise, it’s Danny Devito!”
I’d actually watch that! 😛
Lolz. That movie with Danny would be the only 50 Shades version I would watch. Thanks for the laugh!
That would be BRILLIANT. Totally subverting the modern movie marketing process.
Or perhaps George Takei? His dramatic reading of passages from the book is the only reason to even pay attention. Oh my!
😉
Or Gilbert Gottfried
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5K1RcKJVbHA
OMG I already wrote it in the last article – Christian Grey is supposed to be classically beautiful man!
As for the career, Christian Grey role is the same like the role of Mr. Big in SATC.
It’s not gonna help but it’s not gonna make any harm either.
I’m sure the movie will be a commercial success = a lot of $$$ for the actors.
As I remark before Mrs. K your comparaison with S&TC not only is short of comparision but also it’s denying the current aspect of the genre:
a. Sex & the City movies are spin offs of a SUCCESFUL AND CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED TV series with great following. Comparing a series which make a great impact on TV with that trash is making low favors.
b. Even at the lowest, Sex & the City didn’t have the scarlett mark of “Twilight wannabe sexual predatory thing”. Sex & the City principal audience came on TV and even with the sex scenes, it was more a R film with a clear audience.
c. Actually yes, “Fifty Shades of Grey” is a lame rip off of Twilight, heck even the same author confirms that putting Christian Grey as a new Edward Cullen. Right now, Twilight is facing a huge backlash.
d. Lastly, in difference of S&TC or even Twlight, the fans are mostly anonymous on Internet who couldn’t face to go on cinemas for the stigma or backlash. Usually, this Internet fandom is overrated – Take example of Dredd a film heavily promoted online and even with that it was a failure WORLDWIDE.
Another question of the doubts of the film will be the commercial aspects. You said it will be succesful, well, if you check the caracteristics of the erotic thriller/drama is low.
a. Making a film as a NC-17 will reduce the audience and the number of theaters. Even today, the NC-17 is a forbidden clasification.
b. Making a film as a R, the core audience will be disappointed because most people expected strong sex scenes. And will affect the box office
c. In the last decade, the genre called erotic drama/thriller is in clear decadence in theaters. After the growth of Internet and cable, only art house films were “succesful” in the box office -Take example Lust Caution and Lady Chatterley-. A film with such karma as FSG won’t have that advantage.
And finally Mr. Big can be a douche but he’s not a sexual predator with mysoginistic nature like Christian Grey
Lust, Caution was amazing!
And Tony Leung–whooo! He is a beautiful man. I hate that for me to see an Asian man as someone who is a dark, sexy, sex-machine, businessman, I have to go see Asian cinema. I mean really Hollywood? All Asians aren’t skinny, tall nerds.
Like that guy in Twilight who play as Eric–in every other movie I’ve seen him in, he’s always the nerd or the weird character.
I know Virginia. Even when black and Hispanic actors still face discrimination in Hollywood -Especially whitewashing- at least have advantages meaty roles on TV and cinema and being sex symbols -Like Denzel Washington, Rodrigo Santoro, Gael Garcia Bernal or Idris Elba for example-.
The Asian actors on the other hand, faces double obstacles -Especially for men, with only three stereotypes: a kung fu master, an asexual nerd or a “rice queen”-. But when you see lead stars in Asia, you’ll surprise how gorgeous and talented they are -China, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, India-:
Tony Leung Chiu-wai
Tadanobu Asano
Andy Lau
Won Bin
Chang Chen
Arjun Rampal
Lee Byung-hun
Masahiro Motoki
Daniel Henney
Takeshi Kaneshiro
Hayami Mokomichi
Hrithik Roshan
Junichi Okada
Dennis Oh
Jon Abraham
Ji-Ho Oh
And the late Toshiro Mifune (Yojimbo, Throne of Blood and Roshomon are prime examples)
With the exception of Ken Watanabe -Survivor of cancer and at 54 years he’s still hot- we don’t have a valuable Asian performer, but then when you reconsiderate the situation in Hollywood is not surprising how big stars like Tony Leung and Andy Lau didn’t matter to crossover the Pacific and I don’t blame them. Tony Leung is a chamaleon -He won in Cannes for his remarkable performance for “In the Mood for Love”-
Even when Asano has a role in Thor and Thor 2, his last meaty part in an American film was in Battleship as a sidedick of the bland Taylor Kitsch.
My ideal candidate is Matt Bomer.
Leave Matt Bomer alone!!! He already said he doesn’t want to do it, his White Collar co-stars practically roll their eyes when asked about him doing it, oh and, he’s smarter than that. He’s not doing it!
He’s a terrible actor but I hot so he’s perfect for the role.
Well if he is cast, that really ups the ante for media speculation- more than it already is! Male directors have directed their wives/GFs in love/sex scenes forever, so don’t see why this would be a big deal.
I really don’t have much of an opinion on who gets cast in the movie. My only comment is working together in Hollywood has often been the kiss of death for relationships. I have no idea how the power structure works in their marriage. Even though they met while working together, their dynamic has changed and he’s actually an adult now. It may be more of a rocky arrangement.
I really hope this isn’t true. He has already stated he doesn’t want to do it but if he does the role just to help out his wife…
Hawt d*mn…I thought he was cute with that long, curly hair but he hawt, hawt, hawt with it short. He’s giving me the vapors!
If he does it, it will only be as a favor to his wife. And it will probably tank his career for a few years.
I can’t tell what might possibly hasten their divorce more-if he does it and is massively regretful or he doesn’t and they end up with some total C Lister and she is mad.
I agree that they are doomed. He may as well take the role and speed things up.
Sigh. I hope his wife doesn’t convince him to ruin his career by joining her doomed piece of shit.
You said that like he has a career now.
His career may not be illustrious yet, but it is arguably promising. He was amazing in Nowhere Boy, and I enjoyed him Anna Karenina. He has the second installment of Kick Ass being released soon, and other projects in post-production.
In any case, this is more of a career than he would have left if he signed on to star in this utter abomination.
He ruined Anna Karenina for me he lacked any sort of chemistry with Keira and his performance was wooden
@MisJes actually Kick Ass 2 was already released and already massively bombed (deservedly, I had the misfortune to see it). Avengers is his best chance for a boosted profile obviously. I doubt Quicksilver is all that huge of a character but if he does a good job it could help his career.
i tried to say this yesterday but the director and her child-husband trolled me lol
Sam directing her young husband while he onscreen-sexes an even younger girl… the entertainment industry is always, um, interesting.
Would love to see him get the part!
Aaron Taylor-Johnson is only Person to have an excuse if he does this movie. I hope his wife does not manage to beg hin to do this thou.
He’s cute, but has they most unsexy voice. It’s like Beckham’s; all high pitched and squeaky.
He is a little young for the part and Dakota looks too old against him. I definitely don’t see Dakota staying in the Ana role, if they cast Johnson. Ana shouldn’t look years older than Christian. This isn’t a story about an older woman falling for a younger man. Geez Aaron still looks like he could play on Disney Channel or Nickeldeon.
Even Lily Collins and Lucy Hale are too old for Johnson’s Christian Grey. I want a man in the role, not a little boy.
Love the short hair look for him
Please no.He is a good actor, too young and promising to have his future ruined by this. He is 22-23 years old and the female lead is older and looks older so i dont even think this will work casting wise.Sam Taylor wood should have sense and not cast him in this because it might ruin his career. She is already rich and established as an artist so she can walk away from this with almost untainted if it bombs. He not so much.
Does anyone know who is writing the script? Is it the same horrible, no-good author who wrote the original?
There’s no way any established actor is going to have his name associated with this tripe. I am sure they are trying to sell the benefits of a series, lots of $$ and exposure, etc., but the BOOK SUCKED. I can’t imagine the movie is going to be any better. Even Twilight (the first book, I could never get beyond that) was better written than 50 Shades, and that movie series was all kinds of awful.
Honestly, I can stand either of them. He always seemed like a pretentious asshat and she creeped me out from the beginning by banging him while he was still in his freaking TEENS. I don’t give a $hit if you’re a man or woman, that age difference with someone that young is gross.
I never thought he was cute. Nice body, but he was never even something I glance at twice. She isn’t attractive either, like at all I think, but having a young, handsome (to some apparantly) husband probably distracts from that.
Sorry I know some of you love them, but just the idea of them squicks me out.
exactly, hes annoying and belligerent and shes uber creepy and thinks shes Picasso. i cant with these 2
The only reason I clicked on this story is to complain about all of the 50 Shades stories. I don’t get it. I didn’t read it, but it just seems so lame, and it seems like people have been going on about it for 5 years. Would someone enlighten me please? What is all the fuss about? I’m tired of 45 year old moms going on and on about this stupid book/movie/whatever.
There is NOTHING to fuss about. It’s a poorly written Twilight fan-fiction book that gained traction with women who have been taught for so long to repress their sexuality that this excerable tripe actually seems titillating to them. Plus, some people just don’t know good literature and will read (and like) anything that’s popular. Sad all around, really.
Would rather see gabrielle Aubrey , but Ryan phillippe would be interesting he’s got some sex swag appeal about him & he does currently date younger women .
James Deen, all the way.
aaaaaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah
They should have cast this shitshow immediately and cranked this movie out, because now this movie has the stink of being passed over by pretty much everyone. It makes me wonder how the original negotiations went with the author, because I would be willing to bet that her direct involvement in the movie (as she has been) was hard ‘no’ for some studios. Her expectations seem wildly out of line for what this movie is – chintsy Twilight fan-fic – while she’s expecting this to be an A-list project.