7. Alex Pettyfer
Another actor who was attached to the role, in a way at least - thanks to Gus Van Sant's unofficial, unlicensed sex scene that he filmed for Fifty Shades before Sam Taylor-Johnson was announced as the director of the adaptation, Pettyfer proved with Magic Mike that he has the necessary credentials to carry off the role. That film showed his physical suitability, but even better, the trajectory of the character could easily be seen as a parallel to that of Christian Grey - albeit in reverse, as the sensitive, vulnerable character becomes the sexually charged, predatory alpha male who suppresses his true emotions in order to be lead by his more carnal needs. Pettyfer might not quite have the good looks that are expected of the character, but he does have something irresistible about him that would have definitely worked for the role, and there was something very good in the swaggering charisma he showed towards the end of Magic Mike that would have been good to see in Fifty Shades.