In Hollywood, turnaround is fair play – especially when the demographics change.
In the past, we’ve had lustful softcore fare like SHOWGIRLS – which effectively ended the career of Elizabeth Berkley; NINE 1/2 WEEKS – which introduced the big screen to kinky food play – and effectively ended the career of Mickey Rourke; and the entire Zalman King era which provided plenty of fodder for the likes of Cinemax and other cable TV late night viewing.
But while those movies were targeting men, a major shift has happened recently in movie demographics. First of all, the international market is a bigger part of Hollywood’s revenue stream – so more action, sci-fi movies that don’t need too much dialogue and translation. Secondly, the rabid success of TWILIGHT and its fan-fiction has tickled women – young and old – into the theater. And the lesson Hollywood learned here was that if a woman wants to see a movie, she’ll probably drag her boyfriend, girlfriends or spouse to it. Multiple ticket sales – cha-ching!
Our view.
Originally based on fan fiction about the TWILIGHT novels, 50 SHADES OF GREY has become a worldwide phenom, a novel that has outsold J.K. Rowling’s HARRY POTTER books in some markets! The book though hasn’t been popular with book critics which have dumped on the book’s explicit portrayal of sex, bondage and sadomasochism as “mommy porn” thanks to the overwhelming reader fan base of women over 30.
Naturally, the next step for a hit book is a movie adaptation, and the hunt was on to find an actor who would play the title character, Christian Grey.
According to the book, Christian is 27 years old, tall, slim yet muscular, and broad-shouldered, with dark copper-colored hair and “smoldering” gray eyes. “He is not merely good looking – he is the epitome of male beauty, breathtaking.”
So who comes to mind? The fans clamored on the Internet for the likes of Henry Cavill, Matt Bomer, and Ryan Gosling. So imagine the collective fan surprise when Universal announced that Christian Grey would be played by Charlie Hunnam.
Who?!? Charlie Hunnam is the handsome 33 year old Brit from the TV series SONS OF ANARCHY and the recent sci-fi movie, PACIFIC RIM.
The Internet almost had a breakdown, with a negative fan reaction only topped by the recent ‘Ben Affleck is Batman’ announcement.
Criticism abound – he’s too old, blonde, British, not handsome enough. Christian Grey had to have a dark streak since he’s the guy you’d believe would be into some major bondage and S&M play. So perhaps Charlie Hunnam didn’t look wicked enough? Virtual protests began. Online petitions were started. Washington shut down.
But just 6 weeks later, Hunnam announced that he was dropping out of 50 SHADES.
Unlike the BATMAN casting, no other actor has publicly announced their interest in the part. And reportedly, Hunnam dropped out because of being dissatisfied with the script. (A script, mind you, based on a book that the NY Times described as “like a Bronte devoid of talent,” and Huffington Post sniffed “a sad joke, puny of plot.”)
So who’s going to play Christian Grey?
When it comes to erotic movies, Hollywood is hit and miss. Male actors, unless you’re Matthew McConaughey or British, are reluctant to go the full monty on film. Past erotic movies have always focused on the “female” ideal – whether it be Sharon Stone, Demi Moore or poor Elizabeth Berkley. But since Christian Grey is supposed to be “the epitome of male beauty,” will any actor measure up?
Ultimately, the chemistry between the two leads will matter the most. Charlie Hunnam was cast because he clicked with Dakota Johnson who is currently cast to play Anastasia Steele. Will a new actor cause the entire project to be recast?
50 SHADES director Sam Taylor-Johnson, the talented director of the John Lennon indie film NOWHERE BOY has an eye for male beauty. She ended up marrying her leading man, Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Her considerable skills promise that 50 SHADES won’t be, oh, anything male-centric like Paul Verhoeven (BASIC INSTINCT) or Adrian Lyne (INDECENT PROPOSAL). But who knows how much say she has in casting? Or the script rewrites?
To be able to attract a good lead actor, Universal needs to ease up on the pressure and treat 50 SHADES as an arthouse film. The potential of box office is there (think MAGIC MIKE but with kinky sex), but no A-list actor in his 20s or early 30s wants to be seen naked, beating and whipping their co-star – especially if the role isn’t Oscar-bait. Given the risk, a talented unknown actor could make this project a shining, memorable career launch. The moms will see this movie in droves no matter who plays Christian Grey.
I can see the line of mini-vans at the mall on Girls Night already.
Harrison Cheung is the award-winning author of the Christian Bale biography, THE INSIDE STORY OF THE DARKEST BATMAN. Learn more at bale-biography.com