Channing Tatum among top 7 ‘50 Shades of Grey’ hopefuls

Washington: Channing Tatum is among the top seven stars who have thrown their hats into the casting ring to play Christian Grey in the big screen version of E.L. James’ hit trilogy ’50 Shades Of Grey’.

The ‘Magic Mike’ star and former stripper was asked if he’d be up for starring in the movie. “(1) Yes. (2) I’d only be allowed if my wife was Ana. She’s read the books, so I don’t think she’d be impressed if she couldn``t be Ana!” a news channel has quoted him as telling a magazine. Tatum’s wife is Jenna Dewan, whom he met on the set of 2006’s ‘Step Up’. While the film’s producers, Michael DeLuca and Dana Brunetti, haven’t weighed in on the actors they see as Christian and Anastasia, more than a few A-listers have joined Tatum in offering themselves up for consideration. In May, the ‘Vampire Diaries’ actor Ian Somerhalder said that playing the billionaire tycoon would be “an amazing thing”. “One interesting thing is, by the virtue of playing Damon [his ‘Vampire Diaries’ character] for now a few years, [he’s] 170 plus years old, in love with an 18 year old, I officially have a lot of experience seducing younger women. I’m not saying, I’m just saying,” he told a news channel. On the red carpet of the MTV Movie Awards, ‘Pretty Little Liars’ actress Lucy Hale said that she’s game to play Ana. “I just finished the first book,” she said. “I’m speechless. ... I think every girl on the carpet wants to play [Anastasia Steele]. That would be freaking awesome. I’m really curious to see how they’re going to turn it into a film,” Hale said. Hale seems to have some competition from her ‘Pretty Little Liars’co-star, Ashley Benson. “I’ve read every book. I want to play Anastasia,” Benson told Celebuzz. While Benson’s fans think she should play Kate, Anastasia’s best friend, the actress’ mind is set. “Kate is awesome. I like all the characters but Anastasia? I love her so much!” she said. ‘True Blood’ star Alexander Skarsgard was also asked about starring in the movie. “Where do I sign?” Skarsgard said. “He’s got a sex chamber? My character [Eric Northman] has that on ‘True Blood.’ He’s got his little dungeon. I was born to play that part,” he said. Chris Pine got ‘50 Shades’ fans buzzing in April after saying playing Christian would be a “hell of a choice for me”, but the ‘Captain America’ star clarified his comments in a June interview. “I don’t know anything about it other than I know many women that are reading the novels, and enjoy them very much,” he told Celebuzz. “If it’s a good script ... I’d take a look at it, but I don’t know anything other than that,” he said. Though Emma Roberts hasn’t read E.L. James’ trilogy, the ‘Scream 4’ actress is interested in playing Ana. “I haven’t read it, I don’t even understand, but yeah, it sounds awesome,” she told a news channel in June. “Anything racy, hot. Sure, let’s get hot,” she added. ANI