Fifty Shades of Outrage, Confusion, and Acceptance

We read the books and get images of who should portray our favorite characters when it is hopefully made and on the big screen, but what happens when our fantasies don't come true?

Well, we squawk, moan and complain as all fans would or should. But we aren’t the ones spending the money and making these blockbusters. We have to trust that the casting directors and film houses know what they are doing and do their best to bring our fave characters to life.

I for one was not the least bit pleased when Nikki Reed was cast in our beloved Twilight. You read the books, and Rosalie was supposed to be the most beautiful vampire around. I moaned, I sulked even and tweeted Facebooked and I cannot lie I was not kind in my words. Then I saw the stills being posted and the behind scenes footage and, I was sold. She became Rose just for us. She died her naturally brunette locks blonde and even reportedly lost her hair in the process to bring her to life and do her justice.

Now most of us read MOTU, Master of The Universe, by a then unknown fanfic writer simply known as Snow Queens Ice Dragon. Icey, wrote a tale of the very sexy Edward Cullen, who was a DOM and not a vampire, and Isabella Swan the young naïve human who is drawn to Mr. Oh-So-Smoldering Cullen. The story was an instant hit in the fanfic community and was sent all around twitter and then some. Icey, led us on releasing chapters every so often. We were salivating. It was erotic, sensual and kept us on our toes and wanting more.  

Just as we were sinking our teeth into MOTU, and going back and rereading it again and again, it was pulled. But alas we weren’t without our MOTU too; long it was renamed, redone and published as a set of books. Not by our beloved Icey, but writer behind Icey - EL James.

We were no longer having visions of Edward Cullen and Bella Swan, but Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele. The world was turned upside down. Fans and critics were up in arms the name calling and bad reviews were running rampant over the news and every social network known to man. It was being called Mommy Porn and the moms and women were buying it up like wildfire, and EL James was laughing all the way to the bank.

Just when we couldn’t fathom getting enough of our books, yet another bombshell was dropped; our books were being made into a movie series. Oh our hearts went all a flutter and our minds raced with the endless possibilities of who could be our Christian.

We all had our faves. Sites were made; campaigns were started, just to get the word out as to who would make the best Fiifty. Would they go with an unknown or cast a fan fave the guessing began. I am sure there even had to be bets being wagered in Vegas as to who could fill the shoes and erotic thoughts of so many women.

Just when we thought we had it all figured out, our perfect version of the “perfect fucked up” man, celebs themselves started saying they wanted to play the now ironic iconic role. Up to this point I only could picture Robert Pattinson to fill the role. I was a purist, I read MOTU, I even RPed ( role played ) it on twitter ( with Icey’s blessing ) I knew deep down that, that would never happen, but I did hold my breath in hopes.

When I first heard Ian Sommerhalder’s name being thrown around I was instantly sold and converted to him being our Christian. There was no other man that could fill the void. He has it all, smoldering looks, that smirk that is an integral part of main player, the eyes, the way he wears his suit. All the signs were there. Ian himself was reading the books, gearing up for the role. Hearts were fluttering and panties were poofing.

Let’s be honest, Ana our beloved virgin and Ms. Innocent, no one cared who played her WE WERE ALL ANA. We would envision us as Ana, playing up on the big screen with him. Names naturally were being mention, Emma Watson for one ( would have been amazing ) who has that quality of innocence would have nailed the role flawlessly. I think I even heard Anne Hathaway mentioned as well. Both ladies could have pulled off the innocence we needed to BE Ana.

We waited with baited breath. We got the director, they announced when the movie would start filming, announced its release, and still no cast had been cast.

Today the world came crashing around us; the role of Anna Steele was cast and announced by EL James herself on Twitter, “I am delighted to let you know that the lovely Dakota Johnson has agreed to be our Anastasia in the film adaptation of Fifty Shades of Grey.” Twitter was all a buzz, Dakota Johnson. I for one had to Google her name, I had no idea. I texted the world, letting them know the news. A blonde, a blonde unknown was cast as our Ana. How can it be? Sure she had famous lineage, but who the heck is Dakota Johnson and why oh why her? So as a dutiful site owner, I looked her up, posted what I had on her, and tried to focus and remember, “I once wasn’t happy with the casting of Rosalie and that turned out to be ok.” Who am I kidding I can’t calm down, not until I see some sort of proof that she can be vulnerable and become our Ana. And I don’t just mean by dying her hair brown.

My head was spinning, like many others all over twitter. Well I’m assuming they knew and know what they were doing.

Now we wait for who they picked out to play Christian Grey on the big screen, only we didn’t have to wait long. Just about an hour later, once again Ms. James gave us our announcement via twitter,” The gorgeous and talented Charlie Hunnam will be Christian Grey in the film adaptation of Fifty Shades of Grey.” My jaw dropped, my fists clenched. Was she mad? She cast HIM? His name wasn’t even in the mix of potential Christians! Matt Bomer, Ian Sommerhalder, Christian Bale even, but.. HIM? Once again my head was spinning, it was on overload. He is blonde and BRITISH, how can this burly, but sexy man play our Christian? As a Fan site owner, I did my duty, and posted pics and stats.

Charlie a very talented actor on the very popular show Sons of Anarchy is now our, sexy, fuckable, and eventual vulnerable Christian Grey.

Let’s take a moment to let that set in.

We have our leads in the movie we can’t wait to be made. We can’t always get the man or woman we envisioned to play our fave characters. We also do not know the reasons some of our faves didn’t get the roles. They could have scheduling conflicts, money could be the issue, or they just wanted to go in a different direction all together. But our book is being made into a movie. That is what is really important. We read the fan fic, we went out and bought the books, and in some cases went to the store and met and got our book signed by EL James herself, and now we get a movie out of it.

Making the final decision on who was going to be cast knowing the pressure we are going to put on them cannot and could not have been easy. We need to have faith in their creative direction. We can still have our faves and squawk and moan and groan, but who are we kidding we all will be lined up to see this movie as well as the others we didn’t agree with the casting when it comes out on the big screen.

We can still envision our faves when we all reread our fave books, over and over and over again.

Now we’d like to hear from you. Who did you see as Ana and Christian? Do you agree with who they cast? Comments will be monitored and no hate will be allowed. Just fans willing to share their faves.