50 Shades of Grey Movie Cast: Robert Pattinson Will Not Be Cast as Christian Grey

As it turns out, the field of potential Christian Greys and Anastasia Steels has narrowed down thanks to the author of the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy herself, who has jumped into the fray of media speculation to express not her preference but opposition to two of the stars who have been mentioned as potential casts for the upcoming and anticipated film version of her erotic novel. 

E.L. James said she doesn’t want Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart to play Christian Grey and Anastasia Steel in the upcoming film version of Fifty Shades of Grey. The statement is somewhat a surprising one since the Fifty Shades trilogy was inspired on a Twilight fan fiction, titled Master of the Universe and published on fan-fiction websites featuring characters Edward Cullen and Bella Swan (played by Pattinson and Stewart, respectively, in the popular teen vampire/werewolf saga). 

Perhaps, the fellow actors -- and former real-life couple's messy cheating scandal and highly publicized break up -- is a factor. In this case, the decision is probably a smart one, as Pattinson and Stewart’s cheating scandal and messy break up could steal the spotlight away from the story and its film adaptation. 

But there is another possibility. Stewart could be being considered already for a similar role in a new erotic saga also inspired in a Twilight fan fiction. Gabriel’s Inferno, Sylvain Reynard’s upcoming erotic series – which has just been picked up by a major publisher, fueling rumors of another highly anticipated film adaptation – tells the story of a professor and his considerably younger female student; a role more appropriate for Stewart who just had a fling with Snow White film director Rupert Sanders -- her senior.

But Gabriel's Inferno or not, the exclusion of Stewart and Pattinson pretty much leaves the field open for Ryan Gosling, Matt Bomer, Channing Tatum and other hunks who have been touted as potential casts to play the enigmatic character of Christian Grey. As far as the role of Anastasia Steel, the innocent student who falls for sexually controlling Grey, the field has been reduced to Emma Watson, Mila Kunis and Rooney Mara (who should have an edge as she previously worked with Fifty Shades' potential producers and director in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo).

However, E.L. James’ rejection of A-listers Stewart and Pattinson could also be an indicator of what not only the author but also the producers of the upcoming film have in mind when casting actors for the much anticipated movie. As it turns out, the film producers would be aiming for a couple of protagonists who are not necessarily well known Hollywood starts. If this is the case, Christian Grey and Anastasia Steel would be played by hot up and coming newcomers to whom the anticipated movie would be their big break (what The Devil Wears Prada was to Anne Hathaway).