Charlie Hunnam, who last appeared in this summer’s cult smash Pacific Rim, will play the male lead in Fifty Shades of Grey, E.L. James (the author of the book being adapted) announced today via Twitter. Hunnam will be joined by Dakota Johnson of 21 Jump Street fame as the female lead.Arrow star Stephen Amell was reportedly on the radar to play Christian Grey, the role that ultimately went to Hunnam, and even expressed some interest until he read the book and backed off. Movie Supermen Henry Cavill (Man of Steel) and Matthew Bomer (Superman Unbound) were also discussed, although it’s unclear whether they were ever approached or if that was all Internet speculation.The film adaptation is being directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson and produced by Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti alongside James. Taylor-Johnson is married to Aaron Taylor-Johnson, star of the Kick-Ass franchise and the forthcoming Godzilla movie for Warner Bros. and Pacific Rim producers Legendary Pictures.Universal Pictures and Focus Features are expected to produce films based on all three of James’s novels in the franchise.
