Kristen Stewart. (FilmMagic)
“American Psycho” scribe Bret Easton Ellis wants to adapt the best-selling bondage book “Fifty Shades of Grey” for the big screen. And he’s suggesting Scarlett Johansson or Kristen Stewart star in the racy movie.
Outspoken Ellis tweeted, “I’m putting myself out there to write the movie adaptation [of ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’]… This is not a joke. Christian Grey and Ana: potentially great cinematic characters.”
Ellis said Scarlett Johansson or Kristen Stewart should star in the first film of the popular S&M trilogy by author E.L. James, which follows the relationship between college coed Ana Steele and mysterious billionaire Christian Grey.
“Thinking more conventionally for Ana in Fifty Shades of Grey,” Ellis tweeted, according to Web site Digital Spy, “Scarlett Johansson or Kristen Stewart.” He further posted, “Alex Pettyfer as Christian: too young?” and “Aaron Johnson as Christian Grey? In a perfect world it would be Ryan Gosling… David Cronenberg directing. Bret Easton Ellis writing. Ryan Gosling acting. Fifty Shades of Grey team.”
But the tweets about those casting choices were then deleted, according to reports.
Ellis did leave up his thoughts on who should direct. “I think David Cronenberg is a great idea for directing… and we worked together on American Psycho in its initial phase,” he tweeted.
“Eastern Promises” director Cronenberg’s most recent movie, “Cosmopolis,” stars ”Twilight” hunk Robert Pattinson as a debauched billionaire in Manhattan. It debuted at the Cannes Film Festival last month.
But Ellis isn’t alone in his interest in getting aboard the potential blockbuster project. Since Universal and Focus Features won film rights in March to the James’ book, “Fifty Shades” has drawn interest , and sparked rumors, from all corners of Hollywood. Angelina Jolie was said to be in talks to direct. But the star’s reps denied there were any talks between Jolie and the studio. Names being bandied about as potential stars have included Pattinson, Chris Hemsworth and Miley Cyrus. And Selena Gomez made headlines for starring in an online spoof of the book.
But Ellis, or any interested parties, would not only need to convince Universal, which reportedly agreed to a deal under which James will retain approval over any adaptation’s script, director and cast.
“Hope E.L. James doesn’t think I’m being a prankster,” Ellis tweeted, seemingly aware of the need to woo the author. “I really want to adapt her novels for the screen. Christian Grey is a writer’s dream…”
Ellis has written about a rich deviant before in “American Psycho.” But the screenplay that was used for a 2000 film was penned by Mary Harron and Guinevere Turner.
Ellis further revealed this week via Twitter that a new film he wrote, “The Canyons” will star Lindsay Lohan and will start shooting at the end of September.