On Monday E.L. James announced via Twitter that the roles of Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele will go to Charlie Hunnam and Dakota Johnson. The news was supposed to be the most exciting bit of information for "50 Shades of Grey" fans - they had been waiting almost a year to find out who would tackle the lead parts. However, fans were outraged over the choices and repeatedly told James and the executives involved with the movie that they had made a mistake.
Fans are so upset that a petition was started on change.org that demands for a recast. The person who started the petition, @dontouchmypatch, wants the lead role of the kinky couple to go to Matt Bomer and Alexis Bledel.
"Matt Bomer is the PERFECT DESCRIPTION OF CHRISTIAN GREY AND ALEXIS BLEDEL IS THE PERFECT ACTRESS TO REPRESENT ANASTASIA STEELE and of THEY ARE NOW, NOBODY WILL BE And I read the whole trilogy and I can assure that Matt is the perfect actor for this movie and Alexis too. So please PLEASE, all of the GREYsessed and Bomerettes in the world NEED those actors. They always will be for us the Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele. WE CAN DO ANYTHING GUYS, ANYTHING," the petition explains using caps to emphasis the point.
Both have been fan-favorites but according to rumors neither one was offered the role. According to Hollywood screenwriter Bret Easton Ellis, Bomer was never even considered to play the troubled yet insanely hot billionaire despite all the chatter. Ellis claims Robert Pattinson was James' favorite, but for reasons unknown he was not cast as Grey.
As far as the female lead, the role was reportedly offered to Felicity Jones but she turned it down because of full-frontal nudity. It seems like neither Johnson nor Hunnam were the executives' first choices but everyone involved with the movie has defended their choice.
"To all the supporters, lovers and haters - thank you so much for the passion that you have for this project. You all rock. All of you," James tweeted.
"There is a lot that goes into casting that isn't just looks. Talent, availability, their desire to do it, chemistry with other actor, etc." producer Dana Brunetti tweeted. "So if your favorite wasn't cast, then it is most likely due to something on that list. Keep that in mind while hating and keep perspective."
With all the negative attention the main casting announcement has received it must be hard for Johnson and Hunnam to handle it but a source close to the "Ben and Kate" actress says Johnson is determined to prove everyone wrong.
"Dakota's doing her best not to let all the mean comments get to her because she knows that it goes with the territory but still, some of the things people have been saying are pretty awful - especially the stuff about her looks," a source told Hollywood Life. "Thank God they're being just as awful about Charlie [Hunnam] because at least she's not alone. They're bonding over it and laughing about it. She's sensitive so obviously it hurts, but at the end of the day this role is a dream come true for her. She really wants to do an amazing job and prove all the haters wrong."
Do you think "Fifty Shades" fans are overreacting to the casting decision?
