After months of speculation, Universal Pictures and Focus Features have announced the main cast for the big screen adaptation of E.L. James' "Fifty Shades of Grey." Deadline exclusively reported that Dakota Johnson, daughter of Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith, will star as Anastasia Steele, the young college graduate who is sexually awakened by the young industrialist, Christian Grey.
Meanwhile, British actor Charlie Hunnam ("Pacific Rim," "Sons of Anarcy") has officially been set as Grey, the guy who took Anastasia's virginity. Hunnam has long been rumored for the role.
Focus Features will release the film on August 1, 2014. Sam Taylor-Johnson is directing the film from a script written by Kelly Marcel. Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti are producing with author E.L. James.
Here's the press release from Universal/Focus:
Charlie Hunnam will star as Christian Grey, the lead male character in Universal Pictures and Focus Features’ highly anticipated film adaptation of “Fifty Shades of Grey,” it was announced today. He joins Dakota Johnson, who will star opposite him as Anastasia Steele. The film, which will be released by Focus Features on August 1, 2014 in North America, is being directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson and produced by Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti alongside E L James, the author of the #1 bestselling book on which the film is based. The screenplay is by Kelly Marcel. The announcement about Mr. Hunnam’s casting in Fifty Shades of Grey was made today by Ms. James.
Mr. Hunnam currently stars as a regular on the critically acclaimed FX series Sons of Anarchy. His feature film credits include Pacific Rim, Children of Men, Cold Mountain, and Nicholas Nickleby.
“Fifty Shades of Grey” has become a global phenomenon and the trilogy has been translated in 50 languages worldwide since its release. To date, the “Fifty Shades” trilogy has sold over 70 million copies worldwide in e-book and print, making it one of the fastest-selling book series ever.
Universal and Focus acquired the rights to the three books in the “Fifty Shades of Grey” trilogy in March 2012. Focus Features will market and distribute the first film in partnership with Universal.
“Fifty Shades of Grey” follows the relationship of 27-year-old billionaire Christian Grey and college student Anastasia Steele. Subsequent novels in the series, “Fifty Shades Darker” and “Fifty Shades Freed,” explore the couple’s deepening relationship.
