There has been a tremendous amount of backlash following the announcement that Dakota Johnson and Charlie Hunnam will play the lead roles in "Fifty Shades of Grey." E.L. James announced the news via Twitter on Labor Day that the somewhat unknown actors had been chosen as Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele.
Fans were outraged and didn't hesitate to let the author know they were not happy about the casting decision. Hunnam and Johnson had not been fan-favorites; many fans were expecting - or hoping - to see at least one of their favorites cast in the movie.
According to several rumors neither Hunnam nor Johnson were first picks for "Fifty Shades" executives and a lot of A-list stars were approached for the roles but they all turned it down for various reasons.
Hollyscoop reports that Ryan Gosling was the number one pick to play the 27-year-old billionaire but he passed on the role because he was "not interested." There were several rumors that Robert Pattinson was the favorite of E.L. James but for unknown reasons he was not cast.
Back in July the role of the Grey was said to have been offered to Garrett Hedlund but he turned it down due to scheduling conflicts. A source told US Weekly that Hedlund didn't want to commit to doing a trilogy and producers wouldn't let him sign on for only one movie.
The Hollywood Reporter is telling a different story. According to their source Hedlund passed not because of a scheduling conflict but because he "couldn't connect with the character."
Felicity Jones was reportedly a favorite among producers and executives to play Steele but they ultimately passed on offering her the role because they felt that at 30-years-old she was "too old" to play a college student, Hollyscoop reports. There were other rumors that Jones was offered the role but she decided not to take it because of full-frontal nudity.
Other actresses rumored to have passed on the role is Shailene Woodley because of a scheduling conflict and Elizabeth Olsen because she wasn't interested in being in the move.
Sources also revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that a lot of people were hesitant about casting Johnson and Hunnam. Hunnam himself was even hesitant to take the role and wanted to wait on signing the contract until he knew which actress would play his submissive love interest.
Johnson was reportedly a favorite by Taylor-Johnson but "Fifty Shades" executives feared she "wasn't a big enough name." Both of their reps were also reportedly nervous about the decision.
"Handled correctly, 'Fifty Shades' could catapult Johnson and Hunnam to the A-list," THR reports. "If it fails, it could end up like 'Showgirls,' whose star, Elizabeth Berkley, never recovered."
Do you think the right casting decision was made?
