He won't be the one wielding the whips and chains.
Actor Garrett Hedlund has rejected the lead role in the adaptation of EL James' raunchy erotic novel, Fifty Shades of Grey due to being unable to commit to a trilogy. The movie, which has yet to cast a single role, is due for release in 2014 with the Nowhere Boy director, Sam Taylor Johnson, at the helm and the author herself as producer.
"Do I Really Want To Be Filmed Slapping Someone With A Paddle? Nah."
The Tron: Legacy actor had been reportedly hand-picked by the author herself to play the 27 year-old billionaire with a fetish for domination. However, the actor and boyfriend of Kirsten Dunst passed up on the opportunity to become the face of the biggest franchise since the series. A source speaking to US Magazine explained that "Doing a possible trilogy was too big a commitment, and producers wouldn't let him do just one film."
After Armie Hammer initially vehemently rejected the storm of rumours saying he was in line to play the role, dismissing it as "mommy porn", The Vampire Diaries' Ian Somerhalder stepped forward to volunteer.
Speaking on KISS-FM back in April, the 34 year-old actor told Ryan Seacrest that "It could be very, very amazing," Somerhalder said. "I have the book and I just started reading it. That would be a pretty incredible thing, and hopefully that could pan out[...]Beyond the shadow of a doubt, I think that would be a phenomenal opportunity!" However, despite his public pitch for the role, sources speaking to US Magazine heard that probably wouldn't be likely: "E.L. was at a Comic-Con party July 20 telling people the part won't go to Ian." It's a shame really: as Grey is described as a "Greek god" in the novel, Somerhalder's face would have been a pretty good fit.
Somerhalder: Wants It But Won't Get It.
They better get a move on and start allocating some roles; the readers of the novels that were originally intended as Twilight fan fiction will be simply raring to see the erotica that has divided opinions brought to life on screen by the artistic director who gave life to the story of John Lennon as a boy.
To take the role of Anastasia Steele - the student caught up in Grey's fantasy who becomes his sexual slave - the odds are currently favouring Mad Men's Alexis Bledel (5/1), followed by Amanda Seyfried, Felicity Jones and Emilia Clarke (10/1) with bookies Paddy Power. Mila Kunis, Emma Watson, Jennifer Lawrence and Selena Gomez have all distanced themselves from the character.
Will Alexis Bledel Play Ana Steele?
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