Long before Fifty Shades of Grey became a cultural phenomenon, Universal Studios was having cold feet about their leading man.
Jamie Dornan had the looks—but studio execs weren’t convinced he could deliver the psychological edge Christian Grey demanded. In secret, a plan was hatched: film a backup.
Over one weekend, while Dornan was off set, a second actor was flown in—his name never confirmed, though rumors suggest it was a European TV actor. A stand-in Ana was cast, and a short “screen test” scene was filmed: the elevator kiss, reimagined.
Dakota Johnson wasn’t told. Neither was director Sam Taylor-Johnson.
The footage was sent to Universal’s boardroom for review. Their verdict? “Flat.” The chemistry was cold, the intensity missing. Dornan’s spot was safe—but barely.
When the truth surfaced years later, Jamie was stunned. “I worked every day thinking I was the problem,” he reportedly said. “Now I know—they were hedging bets.”
The backup footage remains locked in the vault. But one crew member said, “It was a completely different movie. And not in a good way.”
Christian Grey nearly had a different face. But fate—and performance—chose Jamie.
