After a long parade of speculation and seemingly endless coverage of possibilities, denials, and rumors associated with the casting of the upcoming Fifty Shades of Grey screen adaptation, the film appears to have found its leading players. This past summer director Sam Taylor-Johnson (Nowhere Boy) was officially announced to helm the controversial film, based on the worldwide bestseller by E.L. James and now it appears to be official that Charlie Hunnam and Dakota Johnson will star in the S&M-hinged romance.
There has been, for months now, a groundswell of rumors over which young actors would portray Christan Grey and Anastasia Steele in the film version of the bestselling phenomenon. The book has sold over 70 million copies worldwide and has been translated in fifty languages, yet the frank sexual nature of the book series has loomed over possible casting decisions, so it may come as little surprise that neither the leads of the film are huge stars, more budding up and comers.
Hunnam is most well-known from his role in the FX series Sons of Anarchy and appeared in this past summers would-be blockbuster Pacific Rim directed by Guillermo Del Toro. Other credits for the British actor include Children of Men, Cold Mountain and Nicholas Nickleby. The role of Christian was previously offered to actor Garrett Hedlund (On the Road), and other actors either considered or rumored for the part included Armie Hammer, Ryan Gosling and Taylor-Johnson’s husband Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Kick-Ass, Anna Karenina). Johnson (Dakota, that is) is the daughter of actors Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith. Her past credits include The Social Network, 21 Jump Street and The Five-Year Engagement as well as the lead on the short lived television series Ben & Kate. Other actresses rumored or considered for the role of Anastasia include Emma Watson (The Bling Ring), Shailene Woodley (The Spectacular Now) and Felicity Jones (Like Crazy.)
Fifty Shades of Grey tells the story of a literature student who forms a relationship with a handsome, but tormented billionaire. Kelly Marcel (Saving Mr. Banks) adapted the screenplay for the surely to be controversial film which is scheduled to hit screens on August 14, 2014.
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