"Fifty Shades of Grey" finally has a Christian Grey but is now faced with another problem. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Universal Pictures and Focus Features have decided to push the film's production start date back to December.
The movie was supposed to start filming mid-November but because of Charlie Hunnam's abrupt exit the movie was forced to recast the lead role of Christian Grey. Universal and Focus announced on Oct. 12 that Hunnam's TV schedule wasn't allowing him the time to prepare for the role of Christian Grey.
"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," the studios said in a statement.
Less than two weeks after Hunnam quit, E.L. James announced on Twitter that "Once Upon a Time" actor Jamie Dornan would be replacing Hunnam as the new billionaire.
Shortly after that "Team 50" also announced that Luke Grimes was cast as Elliot Grey. Even though the film announced the new lead actor fairly quickly the stall in the casting process set the movie back.
Now that production has been pushed back a month it raises the question whether the movie could be finished by the Aug. 1, 2014 release date, which is nine months away. In that short time Universal and Focus not only have to shoot and edit the movie but promote it, market the film and get it released to audiences - all by August.
That's an incredible time crunch for the movie. Also the studios have yet to cast Kate Kavanagh. Even though she isn't a main character it would be impossible to shoot the film without her. According to reports, actress Juno Temple was offered the role but turned it down.
