Charlie Hunnam pulls out of ‘Fifty Shades’ movie

TORONTO — British actor Charlie Hunnam has dropped out of the big screen adaptation of Fifty Shades of Grey.

Production of the movie, based on the bestseller by E.L. James, is scheduled to begin in Vancouver in early November.

“The filmmakers of Fifty Shades of Grey and Charlie Hunnam have agreed to find another male lead given Hunnam’s immersive TV schedule which is not allowing him time to adequately prepare for the role of Christian Grey,” explained Universal Pictures and Focus Features in a joint statement released Saturday.

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Hunnam, 33, is currently shooting the FX series Sons of Anarchy.

“I wish Charlie all the best. x,” tweeted James.

The role of Christian Grey in Fifty Shades will be recast. Dakota Johnson remains in the role of Anastasia Steele.

Hunnam is due in Toronto in February to start three months of filming the horror movie Haunted Peak (formerly Crimson Peak) for director Guillermo del Toro.