Briana KoenemanGot any plans for Valentine's Day in 2015? Well, if you're a fan of "Fifty Shades of Grey," you do now!
The eagerly awaited movie version of E L James' steamy books is now expected to hit theaters on February 13, 2015 instead of its original release date on August 1, 2014. (Via E!)
Production on the flick was delayed after "Sons of Anarchy" star Charlie Hunnam dropped out just weeks before filming started — (Via TBS)
And, after some pretty wild speculation from fans on social media, Irish actor Jamie Dornan swooped in to take his place as Christian Grey alongside Dakota Johnson's Anastasia Steele. (Via ABC / "Once Upon a Time")
The cast and crew reportedly did need some extra time to prep with their new leading man, pushing production back by nearly a month, but that's not the main reason for the movie's new release date.
According to Entertainment Weekly, "Fifty Shades" would be up against a pretty tough crowd of big events if it were going to be released next summer, including Marvel's new franchise "Guardians of the Galaxy."
And, as all you sports fans know, the World Cup in Brazil is set to take place in June and July — and many studios reportedly pushed their projects back to August to avoid competition there. So Universal Pictures apparently decided to avoid the craziness altogether by adding months to the wait for the film's debut.
Still some potential conflicts, though — the movie's new release date might put it up against Nicholas Sparks' "The Longest Ride." But the flick hasn't even started production yet or hired a cast — (Via IMDB)
Perhaps out of fear of competing with Christian Grey and company?
