"Fifty Shades of Grey" has made another major casting announcement. E.L. James confirmed that 29-year-old actor Victor Rasuk will play Anastasia Steele's best friend and Christian Grey's rival, Jose Rodriguez, Deadline reports.
In the book, Jose is described as an aspiring photographer and Ana's classmate. Christian thinks Jose is a threat because of his close friendship with Ana even though she tells him countless times that she views Jose as the brother she's never had and has no romantic feelings for him. Jose, however, wants to be more than just friends and doesn't like the wealthy CEO.
Rasuk has appeared in films like "The Lords of Dogtown" and HBO's "How to Make It In America" and "Raising Victor Vargas." The Dominican-American actor will next be seen in "Godzilla."
So far the cast consists of Jamie Dornan as Christian Grey, Dakota Johnson as Anastasia Steele, Luke Grimes as Elliot Grey and Jennifer Ehle as Carla, Steele's mother.
The studios have yet to cast Kate Kavanagh, Ray Steele, Grey's bodyguard Taylor and other roles like Mia Grey and Mr. and Mrs. Grey. It was reported by The Hollywood Reporter that actress Juno Temple was offered the role of Kavanagh but she turned it down.
Universal Pictures and Focus Features also offered the role of Taylor to Frank Grillo but he too turned down their offer. THR's source didn't reveal why Temple and Grillo decided to pass on the roles but the studios have been announcing the supporting characters fairly quickly
According to reports the film was under a major time crunch to get the rest of the movie cast so it would be completed in time for the Aug. 1, 2014 release date. Casting was at a stand-still after Charlie Hunnam's abrupt exit but it finally seems like things are back on track.
The studios have even released a casting call seeking extras and stand-ins for the upcoming shoot in Vancouver. It was announced that filming for the movie begins at the beginning of December.
