CHunnam_101213.jpg

Before we even had a chance to accept him as Christian Grey, Charlie Hunnam has dropped out of the upcoming Fifty Shades of Grey film adaptation.

Universal Pictures and Focus Features, the the studios behind the film, cited the Sons of Anarchy star's busy TV schedule for the unexpected exit.

    The filmmakers of Fifty Shades of Grey and Charlie Hunnam have agreed to find another male lead given Hunnam’s immersive TV schedule which is not allowing him time to adequately prepare for the role of Christian Grey.


The actor began shooting the season six finale of his FX series on Friday. Production on Fifty Shades was set to start at the end of the month and the film was supposed to hit theaters on Aug. 1.

Fifty Shades author E L James tweeted “Okay girls and boys – hold on to your hats – it’s about to get serious…” before responding directly to the issue. “I wish Charlie all the best. x,” she wrote. Fans were extremely vocal about their dissatisfaction with the casting of Hunnam and former costar Dakota Johnson as leads. Paging Matt Bomer and Alexander Skarsgard!

Update: According to The Hollywood Reporter, Hunnam got cold feet about the high-profile project. The pandemonium surrounding his casting even forced Universal to hire bodyguards for the actor at a recent Sons of Anarchy premiere.