UPDATE: According to E!, the NW story claiming Jamie Dornan has quit playing Fifty Shades of Grey leading man Christian Grey is false. The actor’s rep commented: “All press reports are pure conjecture as the studio has not committed to a sequel as yet.”
Fans’ hopes for a Fifty Shades of Grey sequel appear to be dashed this week, after leading man Jamie Dornan revealed he would be walking away from the series after his wife expressed discomfort with the film’s sadistic sex scenes.
Dornan, who has been married to actress Amelia Warner since 2013 and has a one-year-old daughter, has allegedly informed film executives he will exit the role of sadomasochistic billionaire Christian Grey.
According to the Irish Mirror, citing Australia’s NW, sources close to the Irish-born star have said that his wife is unsettled by his role-play.
“Jamie said the movie would skyrocket his career,” an insider reportedly said. “He tried to assure Amelia nothing would change but women all over the world now lust after Jamie.”
Dornan also spoke of Warner’s discomfort with the role, according to the Daily Mail, when he said, “(Amelia) hasn’t seen the film and I don’t think she will, to be honest. I’d understand if she didn’t want to.”
According to the Mirror, the source said Dornan also felt co-star Dakota Johnson had hampered his performance. He lacked chemistry with the 25-year-old.
“He says Dakota gave him nothing to work with.”
Johnson hasn’t received full support for her role in the film either. In an awkward exchange on Sunday with her mother Melanie Griffith, prior to the 87th Academy Awards, Griffith was asked about Fifty Shades on the red carpet.
The one-time film heavyweight told ABC’s Lara Spencer she has not seen the movie, and does not intend to.
“I don’t think I can, I think it would be strange,” Griffith said. “She’s a really good actress, I don’t need to see that to know how good she is.”
A visibly embarrassed Johnson then rolled her eyes and said, “All right, you don’t have to see it.”
Despite poor reviews, Fifty Shades of Grey has hauled in more than $350 million internationally.