Charlie Hunnam Still Bitter About Quitting ‘Fifty Shades Of Grey,’ Says He Was Not Afraid Of Sexual Content

Charlie Hunnam is still bitter about his abrupt exit from the erotic, bondage-themed movie, “Fifty Shades of Grey,” calling the decision “the worst professional experience” of his life.

“It was the most emotionally destructive and difficult thing that I've ever had to deal with professionally. It was heartbreaking," Hunnam said in an interview with V Man magazine, in which he posed shirtless.

Hunnam, 35, was originally chosen to play the role of kinky billionaire Christian Grey in the movie adaptation of E.L. James's best-selling novel, alongside Dakota Johnson as Anastasia Steele. The actor reportedly shot for a few days and then quit, only to be replaced by actor Jamie Dornan.

There was speculation in the media that Hunnam quit the role because of the film's sexual content but in his latest interview, the actor denied this reason, saying he was actually doing more sexually explicit shows on national television as a teenager than what “Fifty Shades of Grey” had to offer.

Hunnam quit the movie because he had promised his friend and filmmaker Guillermo del Toro that he will act in his movie, “Crimson Peak.”

However, before quitting the movie, Hunnam tried working simultaneously on “Fifty Shades of Grey,” “Crimson Peak,” and Season 7 of “Sons of Anarchy,” but this schedule required him to travel to different parts of the world and it became impossible for him to continue.

Director Sam Taylor-Johnson was emotionally distraught when Hunnam announced his intention to leave. “I called her and we both cried our eyes out on the phone for 20 minutes,” Hunnam said. “I needed to tell her that this was not going to work.”

Hunnam's role was finally given to Dornan and the movie was released successfully on Valentine's Day this year.

In his upcoming drama-horror film “Crimson Peak,” Hunnan is cast alongside Jessica Chastain and Tom Hiddleston. The film is scheduled to hit theaters on Oct. 9.