
Can you believe that this time last year, all we really knew about the Fifty Shades of Grey movie was that it was happening, and Saving Mr. Banks screenwriter Kelly Marcel would be penning the script? Everything else was a wild guessing game littered with anyone who's anyone in Hollywood (and even a lot of anyones who are no one, really). My, how far we've come, eh?
To celebrate one seriously riled up, raunchy, and yes, at times, ridiculous roller coaster ride that 2013 has been for Fifty Shades, here, the year's 20 biggest moments for the wildly-anticipated movie ... Let's count 'em down!
More from The Stir: 6 Major Shake-Ups on '50 Shades of Grey' Movie Since Charlie Hunnam Quit
What was the biggest moment of the year for you as a Fifty Shades fan?
Image via R Chiang/Splash News
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20 Biggest '50 Shades of Grey' Movie Moments of 2013 (PHOTOS)
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20. Kelly Marcel talks sex scenes
2Image via tumblr
In January, screenwriter Kelly Marcel shared the movie's rating with The Sunday Times. In her opinion/at that time, it was most definitely going to be ... NC-17! In other words, all the sex we'd been hoping for, right?!
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19. The first buzz about the movie's release date hits
3Image via Evelyn Giggles/Flickr
In February, Adam Fogelson, Chairman of Universal Pictures, claimed the studio had "prioritized" the film and was shooting to have it in theaters as "early" as summer 2014. While it wasn't right around the corner, knowing some sort of concrete release timing was being tossed around was music to fans' ears!
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18. Ian Somerhalder acts like he's Christian Grey
4Image via vagueonthehow/Flickr
In April, fan favorite for the role of Christian Ian Somerhalder told USA Today that although "almost every guy in Hollywood in some way, shape, or form is sort of up for this role," he thought "E.L. James created a really bad ass, dynamic set of stories with some really cool characters, and it's a treat at times -- a little uncomfortable at times ..." Flattery will get you everywhere! (Well, except maybe into this movie, eh?)
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17. Alex Pettyfer & director Gus Van Sant make a test film
5Image via endlesslovemovie.com
When we heard Magic Mike hottie Alex Pettyfer and Good Will Hunting director Gus Van Sant made a test film, it was the most legit news we had heard yet about a possible Christian and director! Nothing came of it, but hearing that Alex and an undisclosed actress shot a scene in which Ana loses her virginity to Christian certainly made the end of April a little bit hotter than usual!
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16. '50 Shades' gets its director!
6Image via Nick Step/Wikimedia
Fast-forward to June when E.L. James herself, an announcement from Universal Pictures and Focus Features, as well as a statement from producer Michael De Luca, all informed us that the flick would be helmed by Sam Taylor-Johnson.
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15. A release date is revealed!
7Image via Rusty_clark/Flickr
We were ready to line up around the block for tickets when we heard that Fifty Shades would released on August 1, 2014!
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14. We hear Charlie Hunnam & Dakota Johnson might be cast ...
8Images via Wikimedia & FXNetworks.com
In mid-August, we heard for the first time that Dakota Johnson and Charlie Hunnam were very likely contenders for Ana and Christian!
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13. Charlie Hunnam & Dakota Johnson get cast!
9Image via Twitter
E.L. James chose Labor Day weekend to take to Twitter and announce to the world that Charlie and Dakota would be playing Christian and Ana. (Or so we thought, right?)
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12. Some '50 Shades' fans flip out
10Image via Change.org
As you might recall, Charlie and Dakota being cast didn't go over so well with all Fifty Shades fans ... Some ardent ones -- mostly supporting Matt Bomer and Alexis Bledel -- even started widely-signed petitions to try to get the parts recast!
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11. Universal outfits Charlie Hunnam with security
11Image via PhamousFotos/Splash News
Not long after Charlie was cast as Christian, we heard Universal Pictures has supplied the Sons of Anarchy star with his very own "handful of bodyguards." Whoa!
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10. Rumors start flying that Charlie wants out
12Image via Splash News
Oh no! Soon, we were hearing that the pressure was getting to Charlie, and he wasn't feeling the steamy gig anymore ...
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9. 'SNL' covers the casting drama
13Image via NBC
You know you've made it when Saturday Night Live gives you a parody! And that's exactly what the late night comedy show did with its sketch about Fifty Shades casting drama.
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8. Charlie Hunnam drops out -- OMG!
14Image via FX
Citing his "immersive TV schedule which is not allowing him time to adequately prepare for the role of Christian Grey," Charlie Hunnam actually backed out of the film just a little more than a month after being cast! Craziest. Shake-up. YET!
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7. Christian Grey is recast -- hello, Jamie Dornan!
15Image via jamiedornan/YouTube
After what seemed like MONTHS (although, it really was only a couple of short weeks!) and tons of speculation, Christian Grey was recast. The lucky actor to fill the role: Jamie Dornan! Hot!
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6. Dakota's transformation begins!
16Image via Splash
In early November, Dakota Johnson dyed her hair brunette and got bangs, clearly as part of her gear-up to play Ana!
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5. The release date is pushed back!
17Image via Alanant/Flickr
In early November, Universal Pictures and Focus Features stated that although the movie was originally set to hit theaters August 1, 2014, the release date would now be pushed back to February 13, 2015. Hey, will sure makes for hot Valentine's Day plans, right?
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4. 'Entertainment Weekly' dishes out the first pics & interviews!
18Image via EW.com
Even though shooting had yet to begin, fans got what might have been the biggest treat of the whole year: "Character portraits" of Dakota and Jamie as Ana and Christian and interviews in which the actors revealed more about the movie than we've heard YET! Thanks, EW!
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3. There may be 2 versions of the film!
19Image via Steve Jennings/Getty
Mid-last month, co-producer Dana Brunetti told Collider that fans may be able to look forward to seeing two versions of the film released: One R-rated and the other NC-17!
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2. Jamie Dornan becomes a hot dad!
20Image via Splash News
The Fifty Shades of Grey star and wife Amelia Warner welcomed a baby girl at the end of November! Talk about an eventful year for the hot new dad!
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1. Glimpses of the first steamy scenes hit the web
21Image via R Chiang/Splash News
After Jamie and Dakota's first kiss was photographed and shot from across the street by paparazzi, we got another look at their chemistry just last week. Looks like fans have nothing to be worried about!