Focus Features announced today that the movie adaptation of E.L. James’ steamy bestseller will hit theaters Aug. 1, 2014.
Speculation about who will play the ingénue Anastasia Steele and her dominating, billionaire lover Christian Grey has intensified after it was revealed last week that Sam Taylor-Johnson will direct the racy flick.
“Vampire Diaries” star Ian Somerhalder is rumored to be a favorite for the part of Grey. The actor told Metro that the persistent speculation doesn’t bother him because it is such a big role.
“One can never get bored of people asking about a huge project,” he said. “Everyone has to realize every guy in Hollywood is up for this role. It could be anyone – that’s how that goes.”
E.L. James’ attendance at a party thrown by “Twilight” star Robert Pattinson Saturday only intensified the rumors that he would be slipping into Grey’s pressed suit, according to an E! News report. The casting choice would be fitting because “Fifty Shades of Grey” started as a piece of “Twilight” fan fiction.
It was heavily reported that “Harry Potter” actress Emma Watson was in the running for the part of Steele—a rumor that Watson shut down in March via Twitter.
Who here actually thinks I would do 50 Shades of Grey as a movie? Like really. For real. In real life.
— Emma Watson (@EmWatson) March 17, 2013
Fifty Shades of Grey has been translated into more than 50 languages and sold more than 70 million copies worldwide.