Emma Watson does not think she deserves a good spanking. The former Harry Potter star, 22, has shot down reports that she's playing the lead in 50 Shades of Grey, the movie adaptation of the kinky bestseller.
Rumors about Watson taking the 50 Shades role have been circulating for at least a year, but gained steam earlier this month after the hacker group Anonymous stole and leaked internal emails from a German film company. One of those communications reportedly stated that Watson was attached to star in the film (scheduled to hit theaters in the summer of 2014). Watson has previously denied that she's involved in the film ("I haven't read the book, I haven't read a script, nothing" she told EW last summer), and this weekend, she used Twitter to lay the rumor to rest.
Who here actually thinks I would do 50 Shades of Grey as a movie? Like really. For real. In real life.
— Emma Watson (@EmWatson) March 17, 2013
?
— Emma Watson (@EmWatson) March 17, 2013
Good. Well that's that sorted then.
— Emma Watson (@EmWatson) March 17, 2013
: )
— Emma Watson (@EmWatson) March 17, 2013
Okay, so it's not a straightforward "no," and it's possible that Watson may just be messing with us. But multiple entertainment outlets have confirmed that casting hasn't even begun for 50 Shades of Grey. The studios reportedly have a wish list of actresses for Anastasia -- nothing more. The book's author EL James has also reaffirmed this on Twitter:
There have been no casting decisions made about Fifty Shades.
— E L James (@E_L_James) March 15, 2013
So assuming that Watson is out of the running, which actresses are likely to be up for the role of Anastasia? Mila Kunis was another rumored frontrunner, but she declared at an Oz The Great and Powerful press conference that she would not be doing the film. Other actresses frequently named as contenders include Game of Thrones' Emilia Clarke, Pretty Little Liars' Lucy Hale, The Descendents star Shailene Woodley (reportedly James' favorite), and The Gilmore Girls' Alexis Bledel.
You'll notice that none of these other women has the same A-list name recognition as Kunis and Watson -- which, we're guessing, is one reason why casting has stalled. Maybe they'll ultimately decide to go with a complete unknown (like Kristen Stewart was before Twilight, or Watson before Harry Potter). For our money, Bledel most closely matches the book's description of the wide-eyed college graduate (and at 31, still looks like a teenager). But we love the strength that Clarke has brought to her Game of Thrones role, and that would be a nice element to bring to the role of Anastasia. Hopefully they'll start casting soon, so we can all finally stop guessing!
