As with any popular fiction franchise getting its own film adaptation -- "Harry Potter," "Twilight," etc. -- casting is bound to generate strong reactions from fans who've imagined their favorite characters looking a certain way.
The same can now be said for "Fifty Shades of Grey," whose producers chose Charlie Hunnam and Dakota Johnson to play the erotic novel's two romantic leads, Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele. Unhappy fans have started an online petition to replace Hunnam and Johnson with their favorites -- Matt Bomer and Alexis Bledel.
As of Wednesday evening, the petition had more than 30,000 signatures.
"We want Matt Bomer and Alexis Bledel as Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele on 50 Shades," the Change.org petition reads.
Matt Bomer is the PERFECT DESCRIPTION OF CHRISTIAN GREY AND ALEXIS BLEDEL IS THE PERFECT ACTRESS TO REPRESENT ANASTASIA STEELE and if THEY ARE NOT, NOBODY WILL BE And I read the whole trilogy and I can assure that Matt is the perfect actor for this movie and Alexis too. So please PLEASE, all of the GREYsessed and Bomerettes in the world NEED those actors. They always will be for us the Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele. WE CAN DO ANYTHING GUYS, ANYTHING.
While the filmmakers are very much aware of the disappointment they caused, producer Dana Brunetti spent Wednesday retweeting supportive messages from "Fifty Shades" fans who were happy with Johnson and Hunnam.
"There is a lot that goes into casting that isn't just looks. Talent, availability, their desire to do it, chemistry with other actor, etc.," Brunetti
told his Twitter followers. "So if your favorite wasn't cast, then it is most likely due to something on that list. Keep that in mind while hating and keep perspective."
He also had a good time retweeting less positive reactions from fans:
