FIFTY SHADES OF GREY (2014): Charlie Hunnam Drops Out of Sultry Film

Charlie Hunnam Drops Out of Fifty Shades Of Grey. Charlie Hunnam withdrawing from Fifty Shades Of Grey (2014) leaves the door open for a new male lead in the Sam Taylor-Johnson directed female. Charlie Hunnam was to play Christian Grey in the film. The film is a book-to-film adaptation of E.L. James‘ novel of the same name.

The reason for Charlie Hunnam leaving Fifty Shades Of Grey:

Universal said the thesp bowed out of the highly anticipated adaptation of E.L. James’ novels because of conflicts with the shooting sked on his FX series ‘Sons of Anarchy.’

“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.”

SAMCRO made Charlie Hunnam a star so his decision and loyalty make sense. I’m sure his agent and the rest of his team told him though that Fifty Shades Of Grey would have made him a bigger star.

Here is the problem with the “schedule conflict” reason for his departure: Charlie Hunnam knew what the Fifty Shades Of Grey shooting schedule would be before he signed his contract.

One writer muses that:

It seems more likely that Hunnam had time to think about it, and decided the role didn’t fit him like that Sons leather jacket he wears. There is a lot of nudity in the film, and calls for the kind of things that might make a veteran actor like Hunnam uncomfortable. Or maybe he watched as the Twilight Saga leads turned into celebrities and didn’t want that.

The official press release on Fifty Shades Of Grey:

The film, which will be released by Focus Features on August 1, 2014 in North America, is being directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson and produced by Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti alongside E L James, the author of the #1 bestselling book on which the film is based. The screenplay is by Kelly Marcel.

“Fifty Shades of Grey” has become a global phenomenon and the trilogy has been translated in 50 languages worldwide since its release. To date, the “Fifty Shades” trilogy has sold over 70 million copies worldwide in e-book and print, making it one of the fastest-selling book series ever.

Universal and Focus acquired the rights to the three books in the “Fifty Shades of Grey” trilogy in March 2012. Focus Features will market and distribute the first film in partnership with Universal.

“Fifty Shades of Grey” follows the relationship of 27-year-old billionaire Christian Grey and college student Anastasia Steele. Subsequent novels in the series, “Fifty Shades Darker” and “Fifty Shades Freed,” explore the couple’s deepening relationship.

Production for the film was set to begin at the end of October of this year but that seems to have been pushed back a month for obvious reasons.

We have published the previous Fifty Shades of Grey articles:

Fifty Shades of Grey: Sam Taylor-Johnson Directing Film Adaptation

Movie / TV News: Fifty Shades of Grey, Snow White and the Huntsman 2

Fifty Shades of Grey (2014): Casting Decisions Post-Labor Day?

Fifty Shades of Grey (2014): Dakota Johnson cast as Anatasia Steele

Fifty Shades of Grey (2014): Charlie Hunnam cast as Christian Grey

A Charlie Hunnam image:

Charlie Hunnam

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Source: Deadline, Variety