'Fifty Shades of Grey' Movie: Ian Somerhalder...

The Fifty Shades of Grey casting wars continue. According to two new polls, Ian Somerhalder is now the frontrunner for the coveted role of sexy sadist Christian Grey. Matt Bomer now holds second place.

Of course, the Vampire Diaries heart-throb has hovered near the top of the list of Christian Grey hopefuls for some time. In fact, a darkly mesmerizing 50 Shades of Grey trailer recently surfaced online pairing Ian Somerhalder with Emma Watson as his submissive virgin--albeit not for long--Anastasia Steele. Now, Ian is winning in two ongoing nation-wide polls as well. In Books & Review's "mommie porn" movie poll, Ian garnered 39.55 percent of the votes. Matt Bomer came in hard on Ian's heels with 33.52 percent. An even more recent poll conducted by, of all people, Katie Couric, also shows Somerhalder in the lead. In Couric's poll, Nina Dobrev's brooding beau has 43% of the votes. Matt Bomer garnered second place in the Couric poll as well, but he fell further behind by a wider margin with, once again, 33 percent of the votes. The above results for both polls were as of September 13, and Katie Couric's poll is still ongoing. It will be interesting to see the Couric poll's final results when Fifty Shades of Grey author E. L. James makes her scheduled September 17 guest appearance on Katie's show.

So there you have it. The casting war goes on. Maybe Ian Somerhalder and even Matt Bomer should send Ryan Gosling a nice gift for reportedly withdrawing his name from the race.

Â© Hope Carson 2012

Hope Carson is the author of 2 books: A Roaring Girl: An Interview with the Thinking Man's Hooker and A Thousand and One Night Stands: The Life of Jon Vincent. You can follow her on Twitter.

Comments: 21

Diane Barker Sep 15, 2012, 9:16pm UTC

I hope not .. this boy cannot act .. and that one facial expression is borderline ridiculous/boring but if they are trying to bring in the teens it will be the best move for them to make .. too bad he is so short and foppish looking .. was hoping to actually see an adult looking Christian .. not a wanabee teen.

Elda Chang Dec 4, 2012, 1:48pm UTC

Seriously. When I read 50 Shades, Ian doesn't look anything like Christian. Ian is too short and too old. I can't stand that stupid smirk on his face.

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Julie Buhler Sep 16, 2012, 11:14am UTC

Ian is way too short and too old. He is attractive in a delicate way, but he would not make women look twice if they passed him on the street. He is not right to portray tall, lean yet muscular, intimidating Christian Grey with intense eyes and a panty-busting smile!

Elda Chang Dec 4, 2012, 1:49pm UTC

Agreed!

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Val Parry Sep 16, 2012, 5:22pm UTC

Ian has a great face but is, as you've said, rather short. He has to carry Anna all over the place. So is she going to have to be extra-teeny? Can he act? (I'm REALLY sorry, but I've never seen him)! There are the Hemsworths, Pavelka, many more suitable. But if Ian's won the vote, so be it! @50ShaletsofGrey

Elda Chang Dec 4, 2012, 1:50pm UTC

Ian's acting is one-dimensional in my opinion. Christian Grey is complex. Ian is also too short.

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Lisa Bennet Sep 16, 2012, 10:32pm UTC

It's a shame people can't just support their favorites without putting down other actors. Ian has been the fan favorite with most Fifty Shades fans from the beginning. He's trended worldwide on Twitter with fans wanting him for CG. And to the person above, I can assure you Ian's Fifty Shades fans are not teens. Unless women in their 20's, 30's, and 40's are now considered a teen demographic. We are all over the world, and we believe Ian was made for this role.

Elda Chang Dec 4, 2012, 1:53pm UTC

Not necessarily. Ian's only a fan favorite because he started a web campaign and already has a fan base from his hit tv show. But he doesn't necessarily win all the fan polls.

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Diane Barker Sep 17, 2012, 1:42am UTC

Ian is not Christian Grey .. no matter what his followers believe .. he cannot act .. he is too short and foppish looking and god his one expression is that stare .. he is a fan favorite because of the show he is on .. the Vampire Diaries .. the storylines are not bad but the acting is hysterical .. no he is not Christian Grey .. and if he gets the role IT IS because of the teens .. get real.

Lisa Bennet Sep 18, 2012, 9:48pm UTC

Really, because you say? I've heard interviews with other actors and actresses in the industry who think Ian would be great in the role. I had never seen Vampire Diaries and neither had many Fifty Shades fans... I discovered who Ian was after reading the books and seeing his picture online looking for more info on Fifty Shades. Looking at YT's of his work etc. floored me, he was made to be Mr. Grey. So there goes both of your theories. ;)

Elda Chang Dec 4, 2012, 1:57pm UTC

I've seen the Vampire Diaries and read 50 Shades. Ian does not come to mind. Ian is too short to play Christian. Christian is supposed to tower over people, but Ian does not. Ian is also too old. He's approaching his mid-30's and Christian is supposed to be 27. Fan casting started to get fans excited about the movie. But only the movie production makes the final call.

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gladys torne Sep 18, 2012, 9:40pm UTC

Has anyone looked outside what current "A" list? Everyone is quick to pick some actor who is in and already type-cast (vampire-werewolf)
I have a suggestion: Greg Vaughn (boy-next-door Dan Gordon, on "Charmed" (1998) (1999-2000)...provided he's still in acting. I just viewed an old re-run and it peeked my interest...why not look for something new and not Jake G. or Ryan R. or is it Ryan G.? (either ones would be a mistake.)
Let's get a fresh face on Christain Grey and Anastasia Steele. The characters deserve it.

Elda Chang Dec 4, 2012, 2:00pm UTC

I believe Christian and Ana deserve fresh faces. What it boils down to is attractiveness, chemistry, and talent. I'm so sick of the vampire craze.

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gladys torne Sep 18, 2012, 9:47pm UTC

I also agree with Lady Sybilla Gothic Romance about the Christian Bale (American Psycho) inspiration... a little too obvious for E.L. James

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della s. Dec 10, 2012, 9:32am UTC

Ian is gorgeous and this is from a woman not a teenager. I think he would play a great christian grey. And whi cares how tall he is. The jacob black in the twilight books was supposed to tower over everyone and so they casted taylor lautner? Who is short and a awful actor. Everyone hatin on poor Ian:(

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'Fifty Shades of Grey' Movie: Ian Somerhalder the New 'Christian' Frontrunner

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