Charlie Hunnam’s ‘Fifty Shades Of Grey’ Departure: ‘Sons Of Anarchy’ Actor Talks Decision To Quit
Many Sons of Anarchy fans had been eagerly anticipating Charlie Hunnam’s Fifty Shades of Grey outing, but the actor backed out of the role of Christian Grey at the last minute. Though he’s previously shared some insight into his decision to leave the film, he’s opening up more now in a new interview with Men’s Health. Why did he choose to give up the role?
Ultimately, the role of Christian Grey went to Jamie Dornan, and it doesn’t sound as if the Sons of Anarchy star regrets his choice at all. It seems that ultimately Charlie Hunnam’s Fifty Shades of Grey experience would have been “a f*cking disaster,” the actor shares in his new interview. People details that in the end, he felt that he’d packed his schedule up too tightly with challenging roles and something had to give.
Tackling the role of Christian Grey would have started just five days after wrapping Season 6 of Sons of Anarchy, where Hunnam’s character Jax had just discovered his wife Tara brutally murdered on their kitchen floor. He had also already slated an entirely different role that would have kicked in immediately after his Fifty Shades role. Once the reality of the schedule set in, and he considered how he prepares for roles, he decided that it simply wasn’t going to work.
Hunnam says that the schedule was “the opposite of how I’ve tried to ground my career, not stretch myself too thin, and always do my homework.” Though the choice to choose Charlie to play Grey was controversial in the first place, and there was a lot of buzz when he backed out, he seems to be content with his decision.
Men’s Health talks with the SOA actor about his approach to work, his workout routine, and plenty else. What comes next for Hunnam? He’s playing King Arthur in a six-movie deal with director Guy Ritchie. He has a Calvin Klein campaign on the way, and he’s also in the upcoming movies Crimson Peak and The Mountain Between Us.
Crimson Peak is directed by Guillermo del Toro and also stars Jessica Chastain and Tom Hiddleston. It’s due to be released in October 2015. As for The Mountain Between Us, Hunnam stars alongside Margot Robbie of Pan Am and Neighbours. That film doesn’t appear to have a release date quite yet.
Hunnam has three episodes left of Sons of Anarchy before the series wraps, and fans were left stunned by the episode that aired Tuesday night. Who will be left standing at the end? Fans can’t wait to find out. While many SOA fans were disappointed by Charlie Hunnam’s Fifty Shades of Grey departure, they are thrilled to see there are so many other projects in the pipeline for him.
[Image via James Minchin/FX]
