After a somewhat surprising announcement that Charlie Hunnam will depart Fifty Shades of Grey movie, THR brings word that possible replacements for Hunnam include The Fall star Jamie Dornan and Alexander Skarsgard (True Blood).
Universal Studios is also revisiting its initial list of candidates that includes Theo James (Divergent) and Christian Cooke (Magic City), though Garrett Hedlund is out of contention as he is currently shooting Angelina Jolie's Unbroken.
Meanwhile, the studio has brought on Closer scribe Patrick Marber to perform a polish and character work on the screenplay, written by Kelly Marcel. Marbel also wrote a short film titled Love You More, which was directed by Fifty Shades of Grey helmer Sam Taylor-Johnson.
Dakota Johnson remains on board as the film's heroine, but her casting as well as Hunnam's was met with backlash after announced in September. To date Jennifer Ehle co-stars in the upcoming adaptation which follows the relationship of 27-year-old billionaire Christian Grey and college student Anastasia Steele.
Fifty Shades of Grey, which will be released on August 1st, 2014, is being produced by Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti alongside E L James, the author of the #1 bestselling book on which the film is based.
Stay tuned for more Grey news.
The book synopsis:
When literature student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating. The unworldly, innocent Ana is startled to realize she wants this man and, despite his enigmatic reserve, finds she is desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana's quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her, too—but on his own terms.
Shocked yet thrilled by Grey's singular erotic tastes, Ana hesitates. For all the trappings of success—his multinational businesses, his vast wealth, his loving family—Grey is a man tormented by demons and consumed by the need to control. When the couple embarks on a daring, passionately physical affair, Ana discovers Christian Grey's secrets and explores her own dark desires.
