Previously when it was announced that Charlie Hunnam had dropped out of
Fifty Shades of Grey it was due to scheduling difficulties citing that he would not have proper time to juggle
Sons of Anarchy with prepping for the film. It seems that the scheduling conflicts were just some of the problem because now the story has changed.
Hunnam now cites creative differences as reasoning for suddenly dropping out of the film after being cast for less than a month. These differences caused him to turn down $125,000 payday, so they must have been pretty strong. It also appears that Hunnam was submitting his own script notes and demanding more script control after his notes were not taken and/or approved.
His departure has created a lot of problems with the filming schedule. The studio is frantically trying to find a new Christian Grey so they can make the November 1st start to principle photography and still release the film on August 1, 2014. It is notable to mention that Dakota Johnson is still set to play Anastasia Steele and the current frontrunners for Christian Grey are Jamie Dorner, Christian Cooke, and Alexander Skarsgard. The studio is confident they can still make the release date, but they
may be forced to delay production a week or so while the casting search
continues.
Whoever is cast must prepare for the sudden fandom. It is also suspected that the fandom added to Hunnam's decision to leave the project. He already had to hire extra security for his
Sons of Anarchy appearances and has had to cancel appearances already. Allow me to repeat that he had only been cast less than a month and already that was happening.
If all goes according to plan,
Fifty Shades of Grey will be released on August 1, 2014. It is to be directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson.
