R&B singer Chris Brown broke his silence on rumors of him wanting to play the lead role in the film adaptation of E.L. James' bestselling erotic thriller '50 Shades of Grey' on Tuesday. Rumors began to circulate after fellow singer Leona Lewis told reporters she could picture Brown being a good fit for the role of Christian Grey.
Speaking on Power 106 FM's "Big Boy's Neighborhood," the singer said, "I've read the book. I think it'll be dope. I know the character's white." Brown then proceeded to do an impression of a white man, saying, "Oh my God! That's not true to the book. We hated Hunger Games!"
The Huger Games reference was a dig at racist fans who complained that some of the characters played by black actors should have been played by white actors, Gather Celebs wrote.
Some fans of the erotic novel contend that Brown is not the best fit given his violent history with ex-girlfriend singer Rihanna. There is also the question about his stiff competition, which includes 'White Collar' actor Matt Bomer and vampire-playing actors Ian Somerhalder and Alexander Skarsgard. Bomer and Somerhalder have fought head-to-head in fan polls conducted by Latinos Post.
Competition among actresses for the role of Anastasia Steele has also been very spirited. Actresses Alexis Bledel, Nina Dobrev and Ashley Greene are among fans top picks for the coveted role.
Fans will most likely have to wait a while to find out who will be playing the two lead roles, E.L. James' reportedly told journalists. The film also still does not have a completed script. In October, producers Dana Brunetti and Mike De Luca told fans they had chosen screenwriter Kelly Marcel ('Terra Nova') to write the film's script. No other casting decisions have been made since then.
The film, which is owned by Universal Pictures and Focus Films, does not have a scheduled theatre release date.