Alexander Skarsgard of the supernatural-themed HBO television series True Blood and Jamie Dornan of Belfast-set BBC drama The Fall are the new frontrunners to replace Charlie Hunnam in Sam Taylor-Johnson's Fifty Shades of Grey, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Hunnam, star of the TV show Sons of Anarchy and action blockbuster Pacific Rim, quit the mega-hyped adaptation of EL James' bestselling literary sensation at the weekend, citing scheduling conflicts. His departure has thrown the project, which is due for release in just nine months time, into crisis territory.
Skarsgard, son of Stellan, plays vampire Eric Northman in True Blood. Dornan stars as serial killer Paul Spector in The Fall. Both are up for the role of Christian Grey, the kinky billionaire who recruits blushing virgin Anastasia Steele to be his well-remunerated sex-slave in James' novels.
Reports have suggested Hunnam was overwhelmed with the attention he received from being cast in the movie and got cold feet about carrying such a high-profile project. Studio Universal has now drafted in the Oscar-nominated screenwriter Patrick Marber (Closer, Notes on a Scandal) to rewrite the script, with speculation rife that TV writer Kelly Marcel's screenplay may also have contributed to Hunnam's disquiet.
The Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy, which has sold more than 70m copies worldwide, is not exactly known for its pitch perfect prose. But the appointment of Taylor-Johnson, the artist turned film-maker best known for her acclaimed John Lennon biopic Nowhere Boy, raised hopes that the big screen adaptation might prove an artistically credible film.
Universal may also return to previous candidates for the role of Christian. Theo James, Christian Cooke and Garrett Hedlund may all be in the running. Dakota Johnson, best known for small roles in the Oscar-winning The Social Network and comedy The Five Year Engagement, remains in the lead female role of Anastasia.
Fifty Shades of Grey, which was published in 2011, is expected to be the first of a trilogy based on James' three novels. Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed, which were published last year, are expected to follow into production.
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