Elizabeth Olsen has given her two cents and two thumbs up to Fifty Shades of Grey , the best-selling erotic drama by E.L. James that has been the subject of a flurry of Twitter and blog posts over the summer over who will (or should) be cast in the lead roles. But the Martha Marcy May Marlene star who is currently filming Very Good Girls and has a couple of other projects in post-production said that the novel is “kind of great” for helping its female base to embrace fantasies and to openly discuss their sexuality. “It’s had a huge impact on society. Apparently rope sales have skyrocketed because women who’ve read the book are really getting into bondage, which is kind of great. It’s such a taboo for women to actually discuss sexuality without the help of Cosmopolitan ,” she told Bullett . Continuing she added: “All of a sudden, this book has become a sensation because the women reading it haven’t had access to this kind of thing before. I was talking to a guy who was making a joke about it, saying, ‘Clearly these women just need to watch porn.’ In a way, he’s right.” Olsen had been rumored to play the Anastasia Steele in the already anticipated screen version of the movie. Rumors have also been flying about Kristen Stewart, Emma Watson (who told EW the answer is no), Shailene Woodley, Amanda Seyfriend, Dakota Fanning and Lindsay Lohan. And for Olsen, the answer is a bonafide no. In fact a, “No, no, no.” Amazon.com plot description of Fifty Shades of Grey : Romantic, liberating and totally addictive, “Fifty Shades of Grey” is a novel that will obsess you, possess you, and stay with you forever. When literature student Anastasia Steele interviews successful entrepreneur Christian Grey, she finds him very attractive and deeply intimidating. Convinced that their meeting went badly, she tries to put him out of her mind – until he turns up at the store where she works part-time, and invites her out. Unworldly and innocent, Ana is shocked to find she wants this man. And, when he warns her to keep her distance, it only makes her want him more. But Grey is tormented by inner demons, and consumed by the need to control. As they embark on a passionate love affair, Ana discovers more about her own desires, as well as the dark secrets Grey keeps hidden away from public view… [Source: Bullet , SF Gate , Amazon ]
Amid reports that Emma Watson was in discussions for the lead role of Anastasia Steele in the Fifty Shades of Grey movie , the Internet got all sorts of excited. For no reason. Despite rumors linking her to the hotly-anticipated project, the Harry Potter cutie says she is not in negotiations to star, nor has she even read it. “I haven’t read the book, I haven’t a read a script, nothing,” she said. “There are so many movies you become attached to when I’ve literally never even received a phone call or expressed interest. It was the same way with The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo – I never even saw a script!” She adds that even some friends and family asked her about Fifty Shades of Grey since so many different “news” items popped up online. Her response to that: “I told them just because there are 60 articles on the Internet doesn’t mean it’s any less true than if there are 3-4.” So no Emma Watson as Ana Steele . But you can see her in The Perks of Being a Wallflower , The Bling Ring and Darren Aronofsky’s Noah soon. [Photo: WENN.com]
Fifty Shades of Grey is a must-read for women everywhere. Apparently, the EL James novel is also making S&M and bondage gear a must-buy for some. The buzzed-about book has left unassuming New York women so feverish, they’ve been snapping up the tools and toys that the hunky Christian Grey favors. They’re even slipping into stores and asking for bondage material – the type of natural filament rope used in the trilogy – the New York Post reports. “Oh, we’ve been selling rope to women,” says Clifton Kahn, owner of Lexington Hardware on the Upper East Side. “I’d say tenfold more rope than usual.” “The women are definitely buying, and it’s still continuing.” Apparently tying someone up isn’t expensive. The store’s most popular item is soft-cotton “clothes line” rope, which retails at a bargain $5 for 50 feet. Tarzian Hardware in Park Slope, Brooklyn, has also seen the trend. “It’s usually men buying rope, but women, they’ve been coming in the last few months,” the manager told the newspaper. “I’ve actually read the book. So when the women began buying rope, it was kind of like, ‘Hmmm, that does seem unusual.’” While New Yorkers act out their S&M fantasies, casting the movie roles of Christian and Anastasia has become an online fantasy game of sorts this spring. Some stars, such as Ian Somerhalder , have expressed interest in the film themselves. Who can you see as the two leads? Vote in our polls below! Who should play Christian? Who should play Ana?
Ian Somerhalder is not only interested in the role of Christian in Fifty Shades of Grey, he’s progressed to lobbying for it … and recruiting writers. The Vampire Diaries star, 33, has made it clear that he’s more than game to turn the controversial novel into an even more controversial movie. Now he’s waging a Twitter campaign of sorts, beginning with writing to Bret Easton Ellis, who he apparently wants to write the script: “Id so love to be Christian Grey w/you & Angelina Jolie. Ive only waited 10 years to do a movie w/u. Im grown up now-no worries.” Ellis ( American Psycho, The Rules of Attraction ) has also been angling to bring the S&M saga of Mr. Grey and Anastasia Steele to the big screen. He wrote to Ian: “I’m glad you’re as excited by the prospect of Fifty Shades of Grey as I am. (though I’ve heard that Angelina is not involved…)” Yes, despite rumors that Angelina Jolie will direct , that’s not happening. Still, Bret and Ian? A formidable pair no doubt. Ellis previously named Alex Pettyfer as his Mr. Grey of choice, but says he might reconsider. “Rereading Fifty Shades of Grey: it’s hard for me to think of Ian Somerhalder as Christian G. because I’ve known him personally for so long.” “I know Ian Somerhalder and how kinky he can be and yes, he’s probably Christian Grey in Fifty Shades of Grey, and he will go all-out for it.” “I’ll call Ian tomorrow for Fifty Shades of Grey …I get it, I get it.” We’re glad you get it Bret … now do it. Your take: Ian in 50 Shades?
Co-writer Damon Lindelof tells MTV News if there were a follow-up, ‘it wouldn’t be ‘Alien.’ ‘ By Kevin P. Sullivan Charlize Theron and Idris Elba in “Prometheus” Photo: 20th Century Fox In the wake of the mind explosion that was Ridley Scott’s ” Prometheus ,” both fans and haters have been curiously posturing about what it could all mean and whether a sequel is likely or even possible. Though after a solid opening weekend, the fate of a “Prometheus” sequel may now lie in the hands of a Fox executive instead of the creative talent, we spoke with co-writer Damon Lindelof about whether the events and ideas in “Prometheus” leave an opening for a follow-up. Spoilers ahead. Much of the philosophy in “Prometheus” revolves around the unsatisfying nature of ultimate answers, and the film purposely avoids resolving some of the story’s lingering questions. So could a sequel exist without contradicting the ideas of the original? Lindelof told us that “Prometheus” was always intended to be a stand-alone film, but there is the possibility for more story. “The conversations that we had about the story of ‘Prometheus’ and how it would end were always predicated on the idea that there would not be a sequel, that a sequel was not a foregone conclusion, and that the movie itself had to have a feeling of being complete,” Lindelof said. “That being said, we also wanted the audience to feel that, like, if there were a sequel to ‘Prometheus,’ it wouldn’t be ‘Alien.’ ” That idea of a separate narrative arc from “Alien” led to the loose end of Shaw flying off to find the Engineers, so that if a sequel were to happen, it would take the audience to unfamiliar territory. “Something needed to happened at the end of this movie that clearly steered and announced that the direction of the trajectory of this story moving forward was not going to head toward LV-426 and a crashed, derelict ship with a Space Jockey with an exploded chest surrounded by eggs, that Shaw and David were headed in a different direction that was probably not going to result in that,” Lindelof said. “Those two things were sort of simultaneous to each other, so you’re both saying, ‘We want this movie to stand on its own, but we also acknowledge that it needs to end in a way that is very clear that if the story were to progress (if there were a sequel) ‘ We tried to thread the needle between the two ideas.” If the concept of no sequel to “Prometheus” upsets you because of the remaining mysteries, Lindelof suggests you look toward Scott for your answers, because he has them. “Then, of course, for all this talk of unanswered questions or the characters theorizing but not really getting their theories proved or, more importantly, for getting their makers to answer for the condition of the movie, Ridley and I and Jon [Spaihts] all discussed what we felt those answers were and came to agreement on them, so despite whatever slings and arrows come our way, this is not a case of, ‘Well, we didn’t know, so we didn’t bother trying,'” Lindelof said. “We definitely knew, and Ridley decided that the more interesting movie was one where we didn’t explicitly spell that stuff out.” So because Scott designed the movie to be the way that it is, those questions should drive you want more, just like Shaw at the end of the film, but Lindelof promised that the answers you might be searching for could be hidden inside “Prometheus.” “I really believe — and this is not shamed hucksterism — that upon multiple viewings of the movie or just entering into conversation with people who have seen it, there are a lot more answers there than people think there are and room for theories, but the movie needed to end in a way that is Shaw still searching,” he said. “She is not satisfied with the answers that she got. I think that’s very indicative, hopefully, if Shaw is supposed to be the audience proxy, they’re supposed to be feeling the same way that she is at the end of the movie.” For all the “Lost” fans out there, this might all sound like a familiar song and dance, especially coming from Lindelof, and the writer knew he was in for that comparison when he took on Scott’s orders. “To be completely candid, I knew that I’d eat some s— for that for the rest of my career, if there is no sequel to ‘Prometheus,’ but did it anyway, and had Ridley asked me to do it the other way, I would have done that too,” Lindelof said. “This movie is about realizing his vision. He’s only directed three science-fiction films, and now ‘Prometheus’ is one of them, and if he told me to jump off a bridge, I would.” Check out everything we’ve got on “Prometheus.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Videos Experts React To The ‘Prometheus’ Trailer
‘Spring Breakers’ star, who appears in Funny or Die parody, tells MTV News ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ is ‘intriguing.’ By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Cory Midgarden Selena Gomez Photo: MTV News In May, Selena Gomez poked fun at the blush-inducing literary phenomenon that is “Fifty Shades of Grey.” Appearing in a Funny or Die sketch titled “Fifty Shades of Blue,” Gomez, playing a naive, lusty Ana Steele type, longed for her handyman, played by Nick Kroll, who comes across in the skit as anything but the suave, sexy Christian Grey from the trilogy. However, before Gomez hit the set for the short, she had to do some research and read E. L. James’ book. Well, what she read truly did leave her cheeks rosy. “I only read the beginning of it, because when they told me about the skit, I didn’t know what it was about,” she told MTV News. “So I started to read it, and I was like, ‘Oh, this is spicy.’ So I thought it was good, it was intriguing. Obviously, it’s working, so the skit was really funny.” While it seems that every actress in Hollywood has some form of “Fifty Shades” fever, given that the book will soon be made into a movie, did starring in “Fifty Shades of Blue” make Gomez want to tackle the starring role in the real thing? “I don’t think so. I know I’m taking risks, but I don’t think I could do that!” she said. “That would be a little too much for me. I think someone older should do that part.” “Fifty Shades” might be a bit too mature for Gomez, but her next slate of projects will show that the 19-year-old is growing up, even if at a slower pace. In addition to her bikini-clad role in the “raw” “Spring Breakers,” Gomez will soon begin work on her next album . “I am missing music, so we’re going to start on the fourth record at the end of this year,” she explained about heading back into the studio after working on several film projects. “Very different! I want to go for producers that probably wouldn’t want me to do their songs. I just want to knock on their door. I also want to work with Fun. I want to work with just different styles of music. “I also want to work with Taylor [Swift] too. So I just want to do different things for this album,” she added. “By the time it comes out, I’ll almost be 21, so I want to be able to — wow, that sounds really scary! — I want it to be older.” Who should star in the ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ movie? Sound off below! Related Photos Books You Can Read Instead Of ’50 Shades Of Grey’ ‘Fifty Shades Of Grey’ Rumored Cast Related Artists Selena Gomez
‘Spring Breakers’ star, who appears in Funny or Die parody, tells MTV News ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ is ‘intriguing.’ By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Cory Midgarden Selena Gomez Photo: MTV News In May, Selena Gomez poked fun at the blush-inducing literary phenomenon that is “Fifty Shades of Grey.” Appearing in a Funny or Die sketch titled “Fifty Shades of Blue,” Gomez, playing a naive, lusty Ana Steele type, longed for her handyman, played by Nick Kroll, who comes across in the skit as anything but the suave, sexy Christian Grey from the trilogy. However, before Gomez hit the set for the short, she had to do some research and read E. L. James’ book. Well, what she read truly did leave her cheeks rosy. “I only read the beginning of it, because when they told me about the skit, I didn’t know what it was about,” she told MTV News. “So I started to read it, and I was like, ‘Oh, this is spicy.’ So I thought it was good, it was intriguing. Obviously, it’s working, so the skit was really funny.” While it seems that every actress in Hollywood has some form of “Fifty Shades” fever, given that the book will soon be made into a movie, did starring in “Fifty Shades of Blue” make Gomez want to tackle the starring role in the real thing? “I don’t think so. I know I’m taking risks, but I don’t think I could do that!” she said. “That would be a little too much for me. I think someone older should do that part.” “Fifty Shades” might be a bit too mature for Gomez, but her next slate of projects will show that the 19-year-old is growing up, even if at a slower pace. In addition to her bikini-clad role in the “raw” “Spring Breakers,” Gomez will soon begin work on her next album . “I am missing music, so we’re going to start on the fourth record at the end of this year,” she explained about heading back into the studio after working on several film projects. “Very different! I want to go for producers that probably wouldn’t want me to do their songs. I just want to knock on their door. I also want to work with Fun. I want to work with just different styles of music. “I also want to work with Taylor [Swift] too. So I just want to do different things for this album,” she added. “By the time it comes out, I’ll almost be 21, so I want to be able to — wow, that sounds really scary! — I want it to be older.” Who should star in the ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ movie? Sound off below! Related Photos Books You Can Read Instead Of ’50 Shades Of Grey’ ‘Fifty Shades Of Grey’ Rumored Cast Related Artists Selena Gomez
Charlize Theron is one of the most beautiful women in the world – and she’s testing the boundaries of that beauty with a new look. The Oscar winner was photographed in Los Angeles yesterday (holding adorable son Jackson), donning a hat that could not fully cover up the obvious: she has gone all Willow Smith on us! Sources confirm that Theron, who is ruling the box office these days with Snow White and the Huntsman and Prometheus , shaved her head for a role in Mad Max: Fury Road . It starts shooting next month in Africa. Compare her new look with her old one now and vote on your favorite:
Angelina Jolie will almost certainly not direct Fifty Shades of Grey , but she will star in a new PSA for a project much more important to her. The 37-year-old actress always makes time for those near and dear to her heart. In this case, that means the refugees of the planet Earth. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees special envoy is helping raise awareness for World Refugee Day, coming up June 20. In a new PSA, Jolie points out that there are over 43 million refugees around the world. That’s 43 million human beings displaced from their homeland. Of those in need, UNHCR provides life-saving assistance to nearly 34 million. The organization’s goal is to share the poignant stories of refugees so that people across America will extend their generosity, concern and support. Jolie has served as a UN Goodwill Ambassador for more than a decade, and has visited refugees around the world. For that, our hat is off to her. [Photo: WENN.com]
The Bachelor winner Courtney Robertson is back doing what she does best. No, not saying “winning” and making catty comments that leave anyone with a vagina hating her after. She’s just rocking a bikini on the beach. NBD! When you DO MODELING for a living, frolicking in the sand and surf in Malibu is just another day at the office. Such is life for the fiancee of Ben Flajnik: The Season 16 winner, who is still together with Ben, showed off a diamond engagement ring as she posed totally naturally, enjoying her day in the sun. When she wasn’t trying to look seductive and showing off her figure, Courtney Robertson was seen diving into the erotic novel Fifty Shades of Grey . Is anyone not reading that thing these days? Courtney did not reveal who she wants to play Ana and Christian, or any Bachelorette spoilers , though she did reveal her toned posterior at various angles. Click to enlarge, and (maybe?) enjoy: [Photos: Pacific Coast News]
