Wow! Entertainment Weekly has an exclusive first look at the film adaptation of 50 Shades of Grey. Jamie Dornan is your new Christian Grey and that’s a newly-dyed Dakota Johnson as Anastasia Steele. Call me crazy but… I think they both look like the parts. Jamie looks more like Christian Grey (as described in the book) than Charlie Hunnam. And Dakota… well, is she going to have BANGS as Ana? Jesus Christ. BANGS?!!?! Let’s face it, Dakota’s hair is a damn mess in these photos, but if she got a proper dye job and ran a brush through her hair and lost the bangs, she would be look like a decent Ana. I like how college student-y they’re making her look too. Because that’s what she was, really. You can see EW’s slideshow of exclusive photos here, and here’s what EW has to say:
Jamie Dornan was in his pajamas, and anxious. It was 1:30 a.m. London time, and the 31-year old actor was watching reruns of Storage Wars and praying for the phone to ring. “I was sort of pretending I wasn’t waiting, but the phone was in my hand, halfway to my ear,” Dornan says in throaty Irish brogue. He had just flown back from Los Angeles, where he had auditioned for the role of the world’s hottest control freak, Christian Grey, in Fifty Shades of Grey. Landing this part would propel him to instant stardom, and so, with his pregnant wife, actress Amelia Warner, snoozing upstairs, Dornan tried to focus on the show. Minutes later, the film’s director, Sam Taylor-Johnson (Nowhere Boy), phoned to tell the former Calvin Klein model that he was about to become the object of millions of women’s fantasies.
“There was a slight fear,” Dornan says now, his wiry frame huddled on a couch in a Los Angeles photo studio. “But beyond anything else, I was really f—ing excited.”
This weeks’s Entertainment Weekly cover story features the first exclusive interviews with the two stars of the new film based on Fifty Shades of Grey, the publishing phenomenon from British author E L James — about the seduction of virginal college student Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson) by a beautiful billionaire with a penchant for sadomasochism (Dornan) — that has sold 90 million copies worldwide and ignited the libidos of a generation of women.
The stars open up about what drew them to the roles, the pressures behind getting the roles right for the fans, and how they feel about baring it all. For Johnson, 24, the daughter of Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson, it meant seriously working out for the first time in her life.
“Obviously, I want to look good naked,” the newly brunette actress tells EW. “I totally understand now why people exercise, because it kind of f—ing feels awesome.”
Dornan, who spent his early days as a model frequently undressing for the camera, isn’t the least bit anxious about the graphic sex scenes he and Johnson are about to film. “I’m a fairly worldly guy,” says Dornan. “I grew up in a very liberal place. I’m not saying we had a playroom, but I’m not shocked by [the sex in the book]. It’s essential to tell the story. I can’t believe films that don’t invoke the sexual side of it. So it works for me.”
Everything also seems to be working now, too, for the studio behind the film, Universal Pictures and its indie subsidiary Focus Features, which purchased the rights to James’ trilogy back in March 2012. The studio experienced some initial bumps along the way, particularly with the initial casting (and subsequent departure) of Charlie Hunnam (Sons of Anarchy) as Christian Grey. The film, which begins production in Vancouver on Dec. 2, was originally set for release this August, but has now been pushed to Valentine’s Day weekend 2015.
I think Jamie has the right idea – he was far from a household name as an actor or a model, but he’s found a motivation and hell, at least it’s a job for him. It helps that I actually think he’s really good looking. I would let him spank me, no problem. And isn’t that what they were going for?
Also – I hate/love that they’ve already got Anastasia “biting her lip” and fidgeting in these photos. She’s very twitchy in the book, so at least that’s authentic.
Photos courtesy of Entertainment Weekly.
Already?
And what’s with the thumb on lip thing? Why is that always associated with being sexy? I find it utterly annoying.
Anastasia has a nervous tic of biting on her lip and that is a turn on for Christian.
But I wasn’t talking about lip biting, but having the thumb on the bottom lip (he’s posing like that, too — last picture).
Seriously? I didn’t read the book. So is the author referring to Kristen Stewart? Don’t know if I want to laugh or vomit! 😉
@Liv
Fifty Shades was originally Twilight fanfic, so yeah, James definitely wanted Ana to behave like the lip biter herself.
I know everyone hates on stew for the lip biting etc….but when I read the Twilight books (shameful, I know), Bella did that in every other paragraph. All she did was bite and shiver.
I think the thumb is stand in for dick.
Jamie definitely has that brooding look down.
Brooding? He looks more like a petulant little boy.
That petulant little boy needs disciplining and I’ll be happy to hand that out.
This is Jamie Dornan?!?!? I recall him being much hotter…
Conclusion: these pics are no good.
exactly ,smthn wrong with the styling .
There is nothing sexy about these pics. These two do not look hot together at all.
I think Jamie Dornan can pass for Christian Grey but Dakota does not look like Ana at all. Dakota looks too old and out of shape. She does not look innocent at all. Please recast her before filming.
I think he looks super handsome, but he has the eyes of a teddy bear! Isn’t he supposed to be ruthless and scary?
I thought it was just me but he look different and less appealing. Sorry but DJ is not Ana and will leave it at that.
Movie is going two disappoint many people.
Google ‘ew cover twilight’ and you will understand just how much ew covers suck.
He isn’t as good-looking without the facial hair.
They sucked all the hotness out of him with this “makeover.” D:
They look like they have no chemistry together. And I agree that she looks too old (in the first book, she’s just graduating undergrad). This just looks really budget.
Two things
1) Why did they make him look like Ashton Kutcher?
2) Apparently they’ve decided to move it up to Valentines Day 2015. Why?
Because every woman wants to drag her boyfriend to a bondage flick on Valentine’s Day! (Not)
If they change the story completely and therefore make it a bondage flick rather than a pro-rape, pro-abuse flick, it could be interesting. I seriously doubt that’s what will happen though.
I thought the same thing….not Asston!
Valentine’s weekend makes so much more sense than an august release. All the lovey dovey couples getting all hot and bothered in theaters everywhere. Damn, tickets will sell like hot cakes.
@An Girl, I wish there was anything lovey dovey about the books, only way they can make it so is by doing a completely 180 from the books, that book isn’t romance.
@nikko it’s February 2015 so it’s actually quite a while away, I think it’s an unnecessary long time for a movie like this.
The movies is going to be finish by Valentines’ day? That’s no time at all. Is it a low budget film? BTW, I don’t like either one of them especially Dakota, she’s not Ana at all. I’ll wait until the DVD comes out and rent it.
I thought it was moving it back. Wasn’t it originally scheduled for next summer? With Hunnam stepping out they were forced to move the scheduleback.
2015
They look budget, like the book. Should be perfect.
Ha! Fantastic comment!
THIS!
Yes!!
Bingo!………….lol
Lmao!!!! This! So this!
Lol A++++ comment!
Well, of course Anastasia is twitchy. Her entire character is a ripoff of Kristen Stewart as Bella Swan in Twilight. Fifty Shades of Grey got its start as “Master of the Universe,” a Twilight fanfic by E L James, who was then persuaded to retool the thing for mainstream publication. Good grief, has it come to this? Ripoffs of ripoffs?
She didn’t have to be persuaded to publish it as “original.” She had that planned for a long time.
I think they both look so ridiculous it’s hilarious. I was almost choking with laughter when I first saw these pictures. I can’t wait for this trainwreck to come out.
this will be interesting.
He looks like a rapist on this cover………….. so perfect casting.
They’re both nail-biters?
I don’t know who took these photos but whoever it is managed to make Jamie look less attractive than he is. He looks bland and vanilla, like superman. I think she looks more attractive than usual. Usually i find him super hot and she is just ok looking.
Um no way in h-e-double-hockey-sticks would I read this but I might watch it once it becomes “independently” available for my lazy Caturdays. However, I think the look in her eyes are too femme fatale. Is this the learned Ana (is that her name)? The trained version?
Also–because my caffeine is kicking in and I’m starting to recall certain details–why *didn’t* they cast Ian Intense-Eyez? Jamie Fragrance-Face is too gentle looking. Or is that Christian’s appeal. I don’t even know why I’m commenting.
^the look “is”. pre-caffeine error.
I just laughed so hard I snorted at “Jamie Fragrance-Face.” People are staring at me now 😀
I don’t hate it! I’m so surprised!
This is actually what I imagined them to look like when I read the books (I know, I’m very embarrased. Didn’t make it past page 100 of the second book, I was just so bored.)
I….might….see the movie to see if they pull it off? Did I really just say that?
Really this cover made you want to see the movie?
It so boring to me and it could be a cover for any movie, Tv show or ad .
OMG she looks like my mother…young and fresh? Nope. He is fine I guess.
I agree! She doesn’t look like she is in her early twenties, she looks like she is 35 to me. And it isn’t just this picture, either. She kind of has a “mom” vibe.
She looks totally different with dark hair. I liked her in Ben and Kate but I don’t think I would recognize her from these pictures.
Her elbow looks so weird in the first picture. Like ropes of pink slime coming out of a tube, just not pink.
I need more coffee, and I need to get back to work.
First thing I noticed, too! I even bent my arm to see if it looks the same way. End result: I’m an idiot. And it doesn’t.
Ha ha! Now I can’t un-see that!!!!
Gross!! It looks like a double chin.
Nope. Eww, actually. He’s supposed to exude the confidence of a billionaire. Not even an ounce of kinky bad. Don’t get me started on the bangs.
I’m not saying the photos are brilliant or anything, but I couldn’t see either of these people in those roles before, but now I kind of can.
Umm…NO and NO…neither looks right for the part…I think Scott Eastwood would have been a better choice than Jamie and ANYONE would be a better choice than Dakota…I’m sure this will be an awful movie based off a lame, totally unreadable book…(I only made it halfway through, before I gave up)…and I like sexy books…but this was AWFUL!
Really don’t like her bangs. They’re trying too hard to make her look schoolgirl-ish.
He’s one of the few guys that is more attractive to me when he has a beard.
Not sure what the fascination is with the thumb-in-mouth thing. Photographer or stylist could have used a little more imagination here. They went too serious. I’d love to have seen them include a slightly more campy shot, why not have a little fun with it? The whole concept is a bit outrageous, so own that.
I think he looks the part- I am not so sure about Dakota. I certainly hope she doesn’t copy KS’ delightful habit of dropping a F-bomb in every interview. So now movie is coming out in 2015???
he looks…okay. i’m into it. i’m having trouble separating him from henry cavill and i guess that’s a good thing?? she looks -way- older than she’s supposed to be to me. how old is she? i’m not familiar with her at all.
I’m going to ignore the merits of the source material (haven’t we all beat that topic into the ground… with a riding crop?!) and just say simply that Jamie is hot.
She looks so much like her mother in that picture. As for the movie – no desire to see it and no, I did not read the book. I read a passage on a web site and found it so badly written that I couldn’t bring myself to read it.
She looks very needy, paranoid and masochistic and he looks like a typical goofus. Should be perfect.
Is it a requirement these days for EVERYBODY to chew on their finger making them look “vulnerable”/ignorant?
He looks really old in that last picture. But otherwise… yum 🙂
All I know is that Charlie Hunnam was going to get me to see this mess! After another SOA last night, I was left wishing for images of him spanking someone, being as dirty as he wants! Didn’t read the books, but I am so into Charlie I would find a way to catch it! These two… Not so much! She has that vapid Hollywood look and he is handsome, but nothing special!
Im sorry but she looks too old to be Ana
I’m surprised people are so harsh. Never read the book, and no desire to see the movie, but I think they both look very attractive.
Is it just me or does Jamie look like Ashton Kutcher in these pictures? Neither of them look right for the part especially Dakota, I expected someone more exotic looking for the part of Ana. Just my opinion
Girl, that is EXACTLY what I said further up in this thread. He really does look like Ashton here.
I said the same thing.
You can really tell that Dakota’s been a smoker since her early teens.
So awkward and stilted. Dakota looks like she only had 3 hours of sleep and Jamie Dornan looks like a frat boy.
I’ve seen better and hotter photos from my sister’s old Cosmo magazines.
Some people look good with bangs. My sister grew hers out and looked ten years older. We were all relieved when she cut them again. It really depends on your face. Some people can pull them off, some can’t. This particular actess isn’t very attractive with OR without them.
Jamie, and Dakota are attractive people but this photo shoot looks so cheap, it doesn’t look like a blockbuster promotional shoot, it sort of looks like a cable or tv movie photo shoot.
He looks like a boss and she looks terrified that she’s about to have a foreign object stuck up her anus. In other words, perfect rep of the books.
Snort.
BAM!
Ha!!
I won’t watch either way but she look older in these pics, like in her 30’s. Not impressed.
I got to see jamie in the bbc series “the fall” and he is pretty legit. I think he will play this role pretty well because he has that dark side down pat. He doesn’t look the best in these pics, but I think when people see him in action, they’ll change their minds. As for Dakota, I agree that she looks way too old for this part. Alexis bledel would have been better for the role.
These pictures are cheesy and it does not make me want to go see the movie.
He looks good.
She looks 30
She was poorly cast
He is SOOO HOT! She is meh… I didn’t read the books , is she supposed to be plain?
Well she’s supposed to be a college student LOL
She just looks too old. Should have gone for Alexis bledel or Lucy hale.
I think she’s supposed to be super gorgeous but shy and poorly dressed and modest.
She has NO experience and no credentials. She’s the child of two people who used to be huge stars: Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith, and since Melanie is ALSO the daughter of a former huge star, Tippi Hedren (whom I think Dakota favors more than her own mother), Dakota can quite rightly be called Hollywood royalty. Her getting cast in this movie is about nepotism and entitlement and nothing else.
As for Jamie he’s working up quite the resume’ for rape and misogyny (see ‘The Fall’).
I pictured him being quite a bit taller than her. Not that it really matters I guess, but this isn’t how I pictured them looking.
They’re playing a rapist-abuser and his victim. That is not sexy.
But, but, but…the feminists say it’s about a woman becoming liberated through choices she makes about her own sexuality…or something!
@Maureen Really? O.o
Eww. If anything I’d think that anyone who’s a feminist would hate that Anastasia is such a weak-minded person who’s incapable of making decisions for herself for the majority of the books.
Yes, I read a brazen defense of this story and its “heroine” from more than one hardcore feminist blogger. One was defending the notion that what the two characters have is real love and she (the blogger) went into this long thesis about how it’s actually offensive to women to criticize Anastasia’s choices and denigrate the book as not being about love because (basically, the blogger wrote) feminism supports the notion that a woman is liberated when she makes ANY choices about her own sexuality and empowerment, even if those choices involve behavior that others may deem perverse or abusive as long as SHE has power/control. I would happily supply links but I can’t remember when I read them.
She looks so much like her mom.
I’ve never read the books, only the (mostly negative) reviews of them, so I may be biased. But does anyone else think she looks scared on the cover shot? As if she’s about to beaten up or something? And he looks menacing. Not sexy at all to me.
She’s 24? Umm fail.
I don’t give a flip for either of these two people or their movie. And yes, I clicked the post just to write this which is so hypocritical of me when I complain of others doing it. GUILTY!
He looks OK, better than I thought. She looks OLD. The dark hair doesn’t flatter her at all and she doesn’t look like the fresh-faced Ana described in the book, there’s a hardness to her features (maybe the smoking?). Only thing this picture has going for it is the buzz is already so focused on how awful it’s going to be, it has very low expectations to surpass. It would be hard for the movie to be worse than the book (yes, I did read all 3–you know, for science)
I honestly don’t think Jamie is right for this role, but I like that attitude – he’s appreciative, wants to do a good job but isn’t talking about it like it’s high brow art or something, nor is he trash talking it. He’s just a bit too sweet to pull off CG imo, but you never know, maybe he’ll stun us with some acting chops. Dakota looks like she’s trying too hard, but then again she’s posing with a seasoned model and that’s going to make anyone look bad by comparison.
she looks so old omg
What’s up with her arm in the first picture? It looks like part of her elbow is melting.
Jamie is one hot man but Dakota……….there’s a hardness to her features maybe her smoking habit is to blame!
The photographer and stylists obviously did not read the book! If they had JD would be in a dominant pose legs shoulder length apart hands clasped in front etc and Dj would be wearing a skirt. This guy is better looking than those pics and ana is a simple and plain girl but pretty in a quiet and elegant way. Dakota is kind of trashy looking. Her hair is highlighted fug and she has sharp thin features which are more for wily or manipulative characters. Bummer for casting choices.
I love these two together and I can’t wait to see the movie. I like this Jamie dude much better than Charlie Hunnam. I don’t understand why everybody thinks these books are so horrible–I enjoyed them. I’ll admit that they aren’t literary masterpieces but I don’t think the writer ever claimed them to be so who cares? What’s wrong with not having to think too hard when reading a book or watching a movie?
Hmm.
Not gonna lie: I like these shots. Yeah the books are garbage and these photos are quite cheesy but they also show potential I think. No way is the film going to be a work of art, but I’ll still rent it.
Heck… even though “Basic Instinct 2” was a steamy pile of sh*t it had a couple of amazingly erotic moments involving David Morrissey that I get hot and bothered just thinking about. The same could be the case here. I think Jamie Dornan is sexy as hell.
He’s hot. I miss him from Once Upon a Time and I’ll probably guilt watch this.
I know nothing about the books. Will never read them…but these pics are great!
I like Jamie. He was really good in The Fall. He seemed so caring and mild mannered which made his performance even scarier when he went dark. He looks better to me with facial hair, though!
I still don’t get the intrigue with this lame ish… The dude sounds like a guy that likes to use his thumbs a lot during sex and she sounds like she hasn’t had the tender touch of a washing machine on spin cycle in months…. DO YOUR LAUNDRY!!
God this movie is gonna be so freaking awful, and the sad pert is it’s still gonna make money. Jfc.
This adorn an guy is cute but still kinda forgettable for me, and Dakota…I’m sorry but I always thought she was pretty unattractive. But isn’t that the theme here? Like twilight? The average looking girl with no real personality, charm or spark somehow wins the attention of a mysterious hottie for apparently no reason? If that’s the case then I suppose they got I right then.
Relax guys…. They have a while to hit the gym to look the part. Dakota says she has already started. Pictures can sometimes be deceiving. I’m sure the movie is going to be awesome!! They look awesome together!! Universal will not fail… I’m sure of that.
Tried to read the first book…..it was hideous and i gave up 🙁
I’m happy with Jamie. I just CANNOT STAND Dakota!!!!! Another annoying actress. She looks like she’s in her 40s with a big forehead and that ugly gap between her front teeth is going to be so annoying every time she bites her lips or open her mouth to talk. They better CGI HER TEETH or something.