September 4, 201311 yr Charlie Hunnam Gets Christian Grey Role In ‘Fifty Shades Of Grey’ By Mike Fleming, Jr. 9.2.2013   Sons of Anarchy star Charlie Hunnam has officially been set to play Christian Grey in Fifty Shades of Grey, the Universal Pictures and Focus Features adaptation of the runaway bestselling book series. Hunnam, who had been rumored for weeks, more recently starred in the Guillermo Del Toro-directed Pacific Rim. Author EL James made the casting official on her Twitter page. Sam Taylor-Johnson is directing a script by Kelly Marcel and Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti are producing along with the author.  This follows by minutes the official casting of Dakota Johnson to play the role of Anastasia Steele. Grey is the young, wealthy industrialist with a dark past who favors S&M relationships. His loyalty to the dominant-submissive subset is tested when he meets the young college graduate Anastasia Steele, who seems like the perfect girl for him.   deadline.com
September 4, 201311 yr Charlie Hunnam as 50 Shades of Grey's Christian Grey: 5 Things You Don't Know By Joyce Chen9.3.2013usmagazine.com Casting Christian Grey, the centerpiece of E.L. James' hit erotic romance trilogy Fifty Shades of Grey, was a daunting task. And now that the author has locked down her two leads -- Charlie Hunnam as the mysterious Grey, and Dakota Johnson as spirited, wide-eyed Anastasia Steele -- fans are abuzz about whether the decisions were the right ones. Hunnam, who recently graced the big screen with his turn as Raleigh Becket in summer blockbuster Pacific Rim, is no stranger to the industry, but his resume may be slightly less familiar to U.S. audiences, having gotten his start in bit-roles on UK TV series. Here, Us Weekly shares five things you might not know -- but should know! -- about the 33-year-old British actor.1. Yes, he's British. Hunnam was born in Newcastle, England, where he attended the Cumbria College of Art Design, graduating with a degree in the theory and history of film. The actor got his start on British children's show Byker Grove, and later played a recurring role as a gay schoolboy on UK series Queer as Folk. His first role after making the leap to Hollywood was as high school student Gregory Ryder on 2000's WB seriesYoung Americans. Hunnam also had a role as English drama student Lloyd Haythe on short-lived Fox series Undeclared, which ran from 2001-2003. 2. Hunnam once auditioned for Dawson's Creek. Life might've been quite different for the actor had he landed a role on the iconic 90s WB show, but though he didn't get the part, Hunnam didn't walk away empty-handed: He met his now-ex-wife, Buffy the Vampire Slayer actress Katherine Towne, at the audition in 1999. The two tied the knot in Vegas after just four weeks of dating, but ultimately called it quits on their marriage in 2002. 3. Fans like to give Hunnam knives as presents. The actor, who plays Jackson "Jax" Teller on biker series Sons of Anarchy, told GQ UK in an interview earlier this year that he's been gifted weapons on more than one occasion -- from fans from both the biking community and the military. "In the show I carry a Ka-Bar, which is the U.S. Marine Corps' standard issue knife," he told the magazine. "So now I have dozens of Ka-Bars that military guys have given me and I've been told a couple of them 'have been used.' Which is a little bit…grimy, you know?" 4. He's a gym nut. Hunnam enjoys working out and once told Men's Fitness that he feels "happier, more confident, and more positive" when he works out. "I feel like I'm a better actor because of the clarity it gives me," he told the magazine. His motivation stems in part from his gritty upbringing in northern England. "I was a city kid in a country environment, and I got a couple of real good beatings," he said, "five or six guys just slamming me." 5. But Hunnam's a budding screenwriter, too! The 6'1" actor recently sold a supernatural screenplay, Vlad, to Brad Pitt's production company, Plan B, about Dracula's early life, though it's "sitting on the shelf right now." The other script he's currently working on is about American drug lord Edgar Valdez, and how "this blonde-haired, blue-eyed all-American kid who had great aspirations for his life .. lost it all in one fell swoop. …It's an exploration of the death of the American dream. That's what I'm interested in."
October 12, 201311 yr The search for the perfect Christian Grey was thought over after "Sons of Anarchy" star Charlie Hunnam was picked to play the lead in the upcoming "Fifty Shades of Grey" film, but now it appears Hunnam is out."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," Universal Pictures said in a statement, obtained by The Hollywood Reporter.The 33-year-old actor was the second casting announcement for the steamy film adaptation of E.L. James' erotic trilogy, after James took to Twitter revealing that Dakota Johnson would play Anastasia Steele on September 2. "The gorgeous and talented Charlie Hunnam will be Christian Grey," she wrote.Almost immediately the actors and producers faced severe backlash from devoted readers, many of which hoped for other stars like Robert Pattinson and Ryan Gosling to bring the book fantasy to life.Â
October 14, 201311 yr Charlie Hunnam Dropping Out of Fifty Shades of Grey Role Is "Not a Surprise," Source Says By Jordana Ossad 10.13.2013     The news that Charlie Hunnam dropped out as Christian Grey in the film adaptation of Fifty Shades of Grey came as a shock to many of us.  But according to one source, who has not spoken to Hunnam since the announcement, it is not surprising that the hunky actor will not portray the wealthy S&M fetishist.  "This isn't a surprise because what he was taking on with this role was not what Charlie wants in his future career," the source reveals exclusively to E! News.  One possible factor for exiting the coveted role? The attention got to be too much for the hunky Sons of Anarchy star.  "The attention and the pressure was intense," the source explained. "More than anything he hates attention and being in Fifty Shades of Grey would force him to do lots of media. That's really not his thing. Charlie doesn't want to be massively famous. Plus, he hates conforming and being told what to do. This role would force him to have to be something he is not."  The fact that Hunnam even accepted the part as the S&M fetishist came as a "shock," the source said. "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," Universal Pictures and Focus Features said in a joint statement obtained by E! New.  Hunnam was "all smiles" on Saturday, attending the wedding of celebrity publicist Jennifer Betts.
October 16, 201311 yr ^I am very happy that Charlie pulled out. I would hate for his focus to be distracted from portraying Jax Teller in "Sons of Anarchy." Â His performance last week was mesmerizing; simply stellar...especially his speech at the table to rally the troops behind him as he takes the MC in a new business direction. Would Charlie have been as powerful if he was also playing Christian Grey?
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