`Fifty Shades of Grey’ Casting News: `Fifty Shades of Grey’ Will Get a Rewrite Now That Charlie Hunnam Pulled Out

Fifty Shades of Grey Casting: Fifty Shades of Grey producers hired Patrick Marber, who wrote “Notes on a Scandal” to polish up the screenplay by Kelly Marcel.

`Fifty Shades of Grey’ just lost its newly announced star, Charlie Hunnam, from “Sons of Anarchy,” to either scheduling conflicts or cold feet about the graphic sex scenes, depending on the media report.

Speculation is rampant that “Fifty Shades of Grey” won’t meet its November production start date now that Charlie Hunnam got performus interruptus and Patrick Marber was called in to polish the screenplay. Kelly Marcel wrote the screenplay for “Saving Mr. Banks.”

Variety reported that Universal and Focus, the producers of “Fifty Shades of Grey” hired Marber, who also wrote the screenplay to “Closer,” to add more character development to Kelly Marcel’s script.

Media reports differ as to whether Marber was hired before Charlie Hunnam dropped out of “Fifty Shades of Grey” or if he decided before this weekend.

The rewrite of “Fifty Shades of Grey” is not unprecedented. A lot of movies get rewrites before movies start shooting. Joss Whedon rewrote scenes in Marvel’s “Thor: The Dark World” while it was being shot. The actors in “Casablanca” didn’t know how it would end because of last-minute rewrites.

"Fifty Shades of Grey" sold more than 70 million copies and thrust E.L. James to worldwide fame and wealth. Along with Simon Cowell and Howard Stern, E.L. James is tied for third on Forbes’ top-earning celebrities list for raking in $95 million this year.

Fifty Shades of Grey will be directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson.

Focus will release “Fifty Shades of Grey” on Aug. 1, 2014.