How Charlie Hunnam, Dakota Johnson Were Picked For 50 Shades Of Grey? In The Dark, Over Drinks
Charlie Hunnam, and Dakota Johnson were selected to play Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele in the upcoming movie version of the book Fifty Shades Of Grey, or what I call Nine And A Half Weeks For The 21st Century. The trouble is fans wanted, according to comments and Twitter tweets, Matt Bomer Or Ian Somerhalder for Christian Grey and Alexis Bledel or to a lesser degree Emma Watson for Anastasia Steele.
In fact, the fan outrage is so bad, it’s caused a Twitter Trend right at this moment, with “Matt Bomer” as the trend. Here’s are tweet examples:
Honestly, I'm really disappointed on the Fifty Shades Of Gray Cast. Matt Bomer or Ian Somerhalder should be Christian Grey. Case-closed!!!
— #EpicLines (@GanyanTayoEhhh) September 3, 2013
And now those idiots are wondering about all the hater tweets…I read that f. book and imagined Matt Bomer and not that blonde bearded guy.
— ⇒♡OneCreepyBitch♡⇐ (@Miss_Demetra) September 3, 2013
All of this has sent Dana Brunetti, one of the films producers, and the book’s author E.J. James, into a defensive on social media.
Here’s Dana Brunetti tweet in defense:
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.
— Dana Brunetti (@DanaBrunetti) September 2, 2013
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.
— Dana Brunetti (@DanaBrunetti) September 2, 2013
But then this Dana Brunetti’s rather a smart alec on Twitter, and that does not help when you’re trying to calm pissed off fans. Take this blend of tweets Dana Brunetti aimed at Jeff Sneider of The Insider were particularly pointed, and all because he called the right actors who were picked. Instead of giving the man credit, he attacks him:
@DanaBrunetti Not sure what your problem is Dana. I was doing my job. Couldn't really get the real "story" b/c everyone was in lockdown mode
— Jeff Sneider (@TheInSneider) September 3, 2013
And that was just a taste of it.
But back to the main story.
The question is, will this outrage dampen the box office potential of 50 Shades Of Grey? I think it would if you go with the idea that fans would be in more rabid support of something that follows what they want. After all, it’s market research: give people what they say they want, and if they don’t get it, they’re not going to buy your product.
I think the movie version of 50 Shades Of Grey is going to be a hard one to pull off as a box office hit because of its erotic nature. Can a movie that should have an NC-17 rating be the box office king of the summer? It’s supposed to be released in August 2014, and during the same period as Godzilla 2014, so I’d have to say a Big G no.
But how well can it do? That’s another question for a new blog post.
Stay tuned.