50 Shades of Grey Movie Cast: Henry Cavill is the Real Christian Grey

Culture

Back in 2007, Stephenie Meyer, the author of the vampire-themed fantasy romance novel series Twilightblogged about her excitement for the upcoming film adaptation of her books by MTV Films. 

She also "mourned" the fact that Henry Cavill, then 24, would not be able to play Edward Cullen (the very same character the English actor inspired, and that ended up being played by Robert Pattinson).

Edward Cullen, in turn, inspired E.L. James' fictional character Christian Grey via a fan fiction. That's why Cavill followers have been raving online about the "Man of Steel" being the perfect cast for Christian Grey because he is, well, the prototype.

However, Cavill is in a tight race with other Hollywood hunks that also have been suggested to play Christian Grey. White Collar's Matt Bomer, Gangsters Squad's Ryan Gosling and True Blood's Aleksander Skarsgard are among Cavill's strongest adversaries. Whether he ends up being picked up over them is going to ultimately depend on the director and the producers of the upcoming film.    

Cavill has a mixed record so far regarding his ability to clinch the roles he auditions for. Though he is known in America for playing Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk, in Showtime's historical drama The Tudors, his experience on the big screen is almost nonexistent.   

Besides missing out on Twilight's main role, Cavill was also considered -- then declined -- for the role of Superman in 2004. Daniel Craig beat him to become the new James Bond. Cavill also lost Batman to Christian Bale, before being confirmed by producer Christopher Nolan for the next installment of Superman.

However, Cavill followers point to a 2008 commercial in which the actor is featured with a look and a setting that resemble the now pervasive Fifty Shades of Grey imagery. The fragrance ad, for Dunhill London, shows Cavill dressed like Christian Grey and waiting for a helicopter emblazoned with the letter "G" -- in what looks like one of the most emblematic scenes of the book and soon to film. Stay tuned.