Actor Charlie Hunnam has dropped out of playing the male lead in the screen adaptation of Fifty Shades of Grey. The 33-year-old was supposed to play Christian Grey in the movie adaptation of E.L. James’ novel, but because of his busy TV schedule, he had to turn down the role.
A replacement for Hunnam, who features in TV show Sons of Anarchy, is yet to be named. Universal Pictures said Hunnam’s withdrawal was a mutual decision, reports mirror.co.uk.
In a statement, the firm added that the time the actor had to prepare for the film had been limited by his television work. To be directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, Fifty Shades of Grey will release in 2014. E L James broke the news via Twitter that Hunnam and Johnson had been cast as sex-obsessed billionaire Christian Grey and naive student Anastasia Steele.