Putting them to the test! Following news that Charlie Hunnam will be replaced in the hotly anticipated Fifty Shades of Grey movie adaptation, several hunky actors (some of them lesser-known, others bonafide A-list) have been rumored to be contenders to take on the role of Christian Grey. In order to keep them all straight — and find out who is topping fans’ lists — Us Weekly has rounded up hunky photos of the possible replacements.
First up, Luke Bracey and Billy Magnussen. Australian hunk Bracey, 24, is said to be one of the current frontrunners. “Luke is at the top of the list,” an insider tells Us, noting that he’s schedule for more chemistry testing with female lead Dakota Johnson. Bracey played Trey Palmer on the Australian soap Home and Away, and appeared as Leighton Meester‘s love interest in the 2011 film Monte Carlo.
A source tells Us Magnussen, 28, is also in consideration. The New York City native played Casey Hughes on CBS soap As the World Turns, and has been cast as Rapunzel’s Prince in the upcoming film adaptation of Stephen Sondheim‘s Broadway musical Into the Woods, starring alongside such A-listers as Meryl Streep, Chris Pine, Emily Blunt and Johnny Depp.
The Hollywood Reporter claims that Irish actor Jamie Dornan, 31, and British actor Christian Cooke are in the running as well. Dornan plays Paul Spector in the U.K. TV series The Fall, and starred as Sheriff Graham/The Huntsman on ABC’s Once Upon a Time. Cooke, 26, currently stars as Mercutio in the new Carlo Carlei-directed Romeo and Juliet film alongside Hailee Steinfeld and Douglas Booth.
THR also reported that Fifty Shades is looking into True Blood star Alexander Skarsgard, 37, and actor Theo James. James, 28, is a British actor who played David in 2012’s Underworld: Awakening.
Just Jared has reported that French Canadian actor Francois Arnaud and Clint Eastwood‘s internet-crashing son Scott Eastwood are also being considered. Eastwood, 27, has had roles in Flags of Our Fathers, Invictus and Trouble with the Curve. He also recently shot a sexy shirtless photo spread in Town & Country that attracted a lot of attention. Francois, 28, is best known for playing Cesare Borgia in the Showtime series The Borgias.
Finally, though they may not officially be up for the role, Matt Bomer and Ian Somerhalder deserve a nod for readers’ choice. Fifty Shades of Grey fans have long been outspoken about wanting to see these two hunks play Christian Grey. After Hunnam was initially cast on Sept. 2, an online petition was created demanding he be replaced by Bomer, 36. Following the news of Hunnam’s exit on Oct. 12, fans redoubled their efforts with the petition to get the White Collar actor in the film.
Vampire Diaries hottie Somerhalder, meanwhile, has long expressed interest in the role. “I have the book and I just started reading it. That would be a pretty incredible thing, and hopefully that could pan out,” Somerhalder, 34, told Ryan Seacrest in April. “Beyond the shadow of a doubt, I think that would be a phenomenal opportunity!”
Tell Us: Which actor would you like to see play Christian Grey in the upcoming Fifty Shades of Grey movie?
