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"Fifty Shades of Grey" has its male lead, again. Jamie Dornan has been cast as Christian Grey, the lead role that Charlie Hunnam withdrew from recently. Dornan will star alongside female lead Dakota Johnson, with Sam Taylor-Johnson directing. Shooting is planned to begin in November, with a release in August next year. Hunnam's departure left the project momentarily reeling. The big-screen adaption of E L James' bestselling erotic novel has been carefully followed by its fans, who were critical of Hunnam's casting. The 31-year-old Dornan, a former model from Northern Ireland, is relatively unknown. He's starred in the British TV series "The Fall" and the ABC series "Once Upon a Time." Unlike with Hunnam, social media reaction to Dornan's casting was generally positive.
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Tom Hardy will play Elton John in a biopic titled "Rocketman." The film is planned to begin shooting late next year. The 36-year-old British actor is well respected for his wide-ranging talent, but his brawny, tattooed frame makes him an unconventional choice. Hardy is most famous for playing the terrorist Bane in "The Dark Knight Rises." He has showcased a muscled masculinity in films like "Warrior," "Lawless" and "Bronson." "Rocketman" is being made with the cooperation of the 66-year-old John, who's an executive producer on the film.
Associated Press
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Actress Joan Plowright is 84. Country musician Charlie Daniels is 77. Actress Jane Alexander is 74. Singer Curtis Lee is 72. Actor Dennis Franz ("NYPD Blue") is 69. Singer Wayne Fontana of Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders is 68. Actress-singer Telma Hopkins (Tony Orlando and Dawn) is 65. Actress Annie Potts is 61. Drummer Stephen Morris of New Order is 56. Singer-guitarist William Reid of The Jesus and Mary Chain is 55. Actress Daphne Zuniga ("Melrose Place") is 51. Actress Lauren Holly is 50. "The Talk" co-host Sheryl Underwood is 50. Actress Jami Gertz is 48. Actor-comedian Andy Richter is 47. Actress Julia Roberts is 46. Fiddler Caitlin Cary (Whiskeytown) is 45. Singer Ben Harper is 44. Country singer Brad Paisley is 41. Actor Joaquin Phoenix is 39. Singer Justin Guarini ("American Idol") is 35. Guitarist Dave Tirio of Plain White T's is 34. Singer-rapper Frank Ocean is 26. Actor Nolan Gould ("Modern Family") is 15.
Associated Press
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