1. Ian Somerhalder
The Lost and Vampire Diaries actor should have been cast as Grey. He was the fan favourite choice by some distance, and he undoubtedly has the right look for the characters, with his piercing eyes offering the perfect look behind his tougher, raunchier surface image. His roles prove he can balance vulnerability and darkness, and it's something of a travesty that everything wasn't done to cast him. Crucially, Somerhalder has that essence that inspires the saving compulsion that drives the entire narrative arc of the Fifty Shades trilogy. He isn't merely sexy enough to play the character, he is savable enough, since the books are essentially about a young girl taming a sexual deviant and changing him for the better (the ultimate female fantasy.) Unfortunately for fans, Somerhalder was confirmed as out of the running at the same time as Garrett Hedlund, with EL James confirming the part wouldn't go to him at a Comic Con party. And it wasn't for a lack of interest from the actor himself as he confirmed in an interview with Ryan Seacrest:
"It could be very, very amazing... I have the book and I just started reading it. That would be a pretty incredible thing, and hopefully that could pan out... Beyond the shadow of a doubt, I think that would be a phenomenal opportunity!"
What do you think of Hunnam's casting? Should Sam Taylor-Johnson have cast someone else? Share your thoughts below.