Charlie Hunnam and Dakota Johnson Cast in Fifty Shades of Grey, Fans React
On Monday, Sept. 2, author E.L. James announced Charlie Hunnam and Dakota Johnson as the lead roles in the film adaptation of her novel, Fifty Shades of Grey. Since then, lovers of the erotic trilogy have not been shy in voicing their opinions on the casting decisions.
As earlier predicted by producer Dana Brunett, some people were bound to be displeased with the casting decisions. Apparently, Brunett was right as fans have already made a petition to remove Hunnam, 33, from the role of Christian Grey and Johnson, 23, from the role of Anastasia "Ana" Steele.
A petition can now be found on Change.org to replace Hunnam, who plays Jackson "Jax" Teller in FX's "Sons of Anarchy," with Matt Bomer and Johnson of 21 Jump Street with Alexis Bledel. Bomer, 35, is known for playing Neal Caffey on USA Network's "White Collar." Bledel, 31, gained fame as Rory Gilmore on The WB's "Girlmore Girls."
"Matt Bomer is the PERFECT DESCRIPTION OF CHRISTIAN GREY AND ALEXIS BLEDEL IS THE PERFECT ACTRESS TO REPRESENT ANASTASIA STEELE and if THEY ARE NOT, NOBODY WILL BE And I read the whole trilogy and I can assure that Matt is the perfect actor for this movie and Alexis too. So please PLEASE, all of the GREYsessed and Bomerettes in the world NEED those actors. They always will be for us the Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele. WE CAN DO ANYTHING GUYS, ANYTHING," @donttouchmypatch, the creator of the petition, said in the petition's description.
So far, the petition has collected 17,500 signatures.
E.L. James is not letting the petition discourage her. Instead, the writer, who will also serve as a producer for the film, is using the criticism as a form of encouragement.
"To all the supporters, loves and haters - thank you so much for the passion that you have for this project. You all rock. All of you," James wrote via Twitter.
Brunett also displayed his perseverance over criticism on Twitter.
"there is a lot that goes into casting that isn't just looks. Talent, availability, their desire to do it, chemistry with other actor, etc," Brunett said via Twitter. "So if your favorite wasn't cast, then it is most likely due to something on that list. Keep that in mind while hating and keep perspective."
Other celebrities have put in their two cents on the controversial casting as well, even joking about their disappointment over not being selected to play the sexually entwined duo.
"Congrats to Charlie Hunnam on the 50 Shades of Grey role. It was a tough fight but the actor with the longer hair won. #bummed," Rainn Wilson, former star of NBC's "The Office," said via Twitter.
"I lost the role in 50 Shades of Grey so you won't be hearing from me for awhile," Lena Dunham, star and creator of HBO's "Girls," said via Twitter.
Fifty Shades of Grey will be released Aug. 1, 2014.
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