FIFTY SHADES OF GREY starts filming next month, and with Charlie Hunnam exiting the project over the weekend, the search is on for a new Christian Grey. Sources have told THR that Universal is interested in Alexander Skarsgard (True Blood, BATTLESHIP) and Jamie Dornan (The Fall, Once Upon a Time), and the studio is also revisiting their shortlist from when they were originally casting for the part, and the list of contenders includes Theo James (UNDERWORLD: AWAKENING, DIVERGENT) and Christian Cooke (ROMEO AND JULIET, Magic City).
THR also learned that on Friday screenwriter Patrick Marber was hired to polish the script for FIFTY SHADES OF GREY. Some have speculated that the script is part of the reason why Charlie Hunnam left the film, but sources say the script didn't have anything to do with it, and Marber is only doing a polish that should not affect the film's start date. Wait, there's a script?
Alexander Skarsgard and Jamie Dornan could be decent replacements…I guess. I read some of the first book (know thy enemy) and calling it terrible or poorly written is a massive understatement. It's just bad. I know I'm not the target audience and the film might do very well in theaters, but will it be a good movie? I doubt it.
FIFTY SHADES OF GREY starring Dakota Johnson and directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson will be in theaters on August 1st, 2014.