Who was meant to play Christian Grey in upcoming Fifty Shades of Grey film adaptation? Charlie Hunnam has been cast in the lead role for the 50 Shades of Grey movie. Would the brooding Robert Pattinson make a better Christian Grey? IT WAS meant to be Robert Pattinson. It has been revealed the Fifty Shades of Grey author wanted the Twilight hunk to star as the whip-wielding Christian in the upcoming movie adaptation. E.L James reportedly made the confession to a fellow writer when she was partying up a storm at Pattinson's house in California back in June. Novelist Bret Easton Ellis took to Twitter shortly after it was announced yesterday that Sons of Anarchy actor Charlie Hunnam was cast in the coveted role. Hunnam, 33, will get up close and personal with Melanie Griffith's daughter Dakota Johnson, who has been cast as female protagonist Anastasia Steele. The long-awaited casting announcements were met with widespread criticism yesterday, so much so that one of the film's producers, Dana Brunetti, took to Twitter to defend their choices. The movie will be released in the US in August next year. Would you rather see Robert Pattinson over Charlie Hunnam? Share with us in the comments section below.