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Charlie Hunnam has dropped out of the lead role in the ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ film adaptation.
The search for the perfect Christian Grey was thought over after “Sons of Anarchy” star Charlie Hunnam was picked to play the lead in the upcoming “Fifty Shades of Grey” film, but now it appears Hunnam is out.
“The filmmakers of ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ and Charlie Hunnam have agreed to find another male lead given Hunnam’s immersive TV schedule which is not allowing him time to adequately prepare for the role of Christian Grey,” Universal Pictures said in a statement, obtained by The Hollywood Reporter.
The 33-year-old actor was the second casting announcement for the steamy film adaptation of E.L. James’ erotic trilogy, after James took to Twitter revealing that Dakota Johnson would play Anastasia Steele on September 2.
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“The gorgeous and talented Charlie Hunnam will be Christian Grey,” she wrote.
Almost immediately the actors and producers faced severe backlash from devoted readers, many of which hoped for other stars like Robert Pattinson and Ryan Gosling to bring the book fantasy to life.
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Universal closed the trilogy deal with Hunnam, 33, and his on-screen love, actress Dakota Johnson, 23, by Labor Day.
Some superfans even went as far as creating and signing a petition to have Hunnam and Johnson ousted – as seen in a Change.org effort that amassed over 80,000 signatures.
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Despite the hate, Hunnam appeared ready and willing to take on the role.
“As soon as we got in the room and started reading with Dakota, I knew that I definitely wanted to do it, because there was a tangible chemistry between us,” the British actor previously told THR.
“It felt kind of exciting and fun and weird and compelling, and so that was it.
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Fans of ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ will now have to recast the lead role of Christian Grey.
But according to reports, the British-born actor got “cold feet” about the role and dropped out, contrary to the Universal statement.
“[Two] sources now say Hunnam got cold feet on the [Fifty Shades] movie, TV schedule said to have nothing to do with his exit,” Matt Belloni, the magazine’s executive editor, tweeted Saturday.
A Daily News request for comment from Hunnam’s team has not yet been returned.
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The film, from “Nowhere Boy” director Sam Taylor-Johnson, was slated for an August 2014 release. It is unclear whether or not the search for a new Christian Grey will push back the release date.
On Saturday, the book’s author confirmed the news with a succinct tweet.
“I wish Charlie all the best,” James wrote.
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