Week one thousand and something: still no word from E. L. James or Universal Studios. The roles of Christian and Anastasia remain uncast. Down here in the "50 Shades of Grey" trenches, tensions are wearing thin. Fans are becoming more discouraged by the minute. A plague of severe frustration has run rampant throughout the grounds, yet they remain diligent. There's no giving up. Their hearts are too strong. Their dreams are too big. They persist day in and day out, feeding off mock trailers and poll rankings. Although the future is looking grim, the will to fight persists. If James and Universal could come to their senses and make a decision, this brutal war could be over. But no. The fans are left with no choice. They will fight for what they believe. They will fight for true love. They will fight for their favorite "50 Shades of Grey" contenders.
For the past several months, there have been a slew of Anastasia Steele contenders, none of who proved themselves as true frontrunners in contention. However, numerous sources now note that "Gilmore Girls" sweetheart Alexis Bledel is the most popular choice for the scandalous role.
Paddy Power rates Alexis Bledel as the favorite to play Ana with a score of 4/1. Behind her are Amanda Seyfried, Emilia Clarke, Felicity Jones and Mila Kunis, all marked at 10/1.
"We've seen a ton of money on Alexis Bledel and its clear punters fancy her for the role," a spokesperson for the online betting site said. "We'll be facing a spanking payout if she's tied down for the role."
Bledel received better odds from William Hill, who pegged her at 2/1. "Alexis has not been averse to flashing a bit of flesh in 'Mad Men' and ultimately, that will be a prerequisite to playing Ms. Steele," said William Hill spokesman Joe Crilly. "She also has the acting clout to star in what will be the biggest book adaptation since the 'Harry Potter' films."
Bledel might be snagging headlines this week, but it's still anyone's game. And who would potentially stare alongside the starlet? Ian Somerhalder and Matt Bomer continue to top fan polls in the Christian department, but still, it's anyone's game.