14 DAY TRIAL // Charlie Hunnam passed on the chance to play kinky millionaire Christian Grey in the upcoming “Fifty Shades of Grey,” the first installment in a new franchise, and it’s a good thing he did. Because he’s moving on to much greener pastures.
This fall, Hunnam returns to FX for the 7th and final season of “Sons of Anarchy,” on which he plays Jax Teller, the President of the motorcycle club SAMCRO. He will also be returning for the sequel to “Pacifim Rim” from director Guillermo del Toro and, Deadline reports, he will also start working with famed British director Guy Ritchie soon.
That’s because he’s in “final negotiations” to play King Arthur in a new Warner Bros. film franchise, rumored to include at least 6 movies. That literally means that Hunnam is finally “breaking” into Hollywood, with 2 major film franchises under his belt.
Fans who cried over his decision to drop out of “Fifty Shades” after he initially accepted the offer must be sorry they reacted this way at the time. Plus, if you think about it, that role really wasn’t for someone like Hunnam, an actor who has been around the block for years, who has had several good movies out and who already has proven his skills in front of the camera. Jamie Dornan, as a relative newcomer, is a much better choice for that.
Back to the King Arthur series, rumor has it that Elizabeth Olsen is also in negotiations for a role. Until confirmation comes for the involvement of either star, here’s what we do know.
“[Joby] Harold wrote the first script and Akiva Goldsman is producing through Weed Road with Harold and Tory Tunnell through Safehouse Pictures, and Ritchie’s partner Lionel Wigram,” Deadline reports.
As for those thinking that Hunnam might not have what it takes to play such a legendary character, you’re wrong, the same media outlet stresses.
“From what I saw of the first three episodes of the final Sons Of Anarchy season that I watched before live blogging the Emmys Monday with the show’s creator Kurt Sutter, Hunnam is perfectly suited for this job. In those episodes, he’s evocative of Denzel Washington in Man On Fire, as he squares the ledger for the brutal murder of his wife, the tragic event that ended the show’s Season Six,” Deadline says.
Doesn’t that just make you even more excited about the season 7 premiere of the show? If it does, mark your calendars for September 9 and check out the new teaser trailer that just came out. And here’s to hoping Hunnam lands the King Arthur role and finally goes mainstream in Hollywood.