Ian SomerhalderWe're currently a nation of women obsessed -- with E.L. James' novel Fifty Shades of Grey, that is. If you haven't already read the bestseller, you are in the midst of doing so, or you're thinking you'd better pick it up on Amazon or your Nook ASAP or else be left out of social conversation altogether. And now that the steamy book's film rights have been sold to Universal Pictures and Focus Features, the upcoming flick version is all anyone in Hollywood can seem to talk about, too. The BIG question right now being: Who is going to play romantic lead sexually dominant billionaire Christian Grey?
There's been buzz that Robert Pattinson is the obvious choice, but on Ryan Seacrest's radio show yesterday, fellow on-screen bloodsucker Ian Somerhalder (of Vampire Diaries fame) chatted about possibly having the opportunity to play Grey.
He told Seacrest:
I absolutely would be up for that. It could be amazing. It could be very, very amazing. I have the book and I just started reading it. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, I think that would be a phenomenal opportunity.
Okay, tell us something we don't know, Ian. Any actor with a taste for the next level of fame is salivating over this role. Obviously, it would be "amazing ... very, very amazing" to nail that gig. A coup! And surely, having the experience on Vampire Diaries would give him a leg up, as we know James is a big fan of the undead, and the character of Christian definitely has vamp-like qualities.
But unfortunately, Somerhalder isn't associated with the right franchise. I have a feeling movie execs and James and anyone who is plugged into this zeitgeist know that the number one choice for Christian Grey is RPatz -- all the way. The only way I could see Somerhalder scoring the role might be as a backup choice, if RPatz is busy with something else even more "phenomenal" (which seems implausible, given how HOT the anticipation is for Fifty Shades of Grey).
Then again, when it comes to Hollywood, guess you never know! After all, Lindsay Lohan is playing Elizabeth Taylor. (Gag.) Guess we'll just have to keep our fingers crossed that the right leading man lands the coveted role.