Will Tony Nominee Billy Magnussen Nab the Lead Role in Fifty Shades of Grey?

Who knew that a comic turn as Sigourney Weaver’s boy toy on Broadway might lead to the starring role in Fifty Shades of Grey? E! Online’s Marc Malkin is reporting that Billy Magnussen, the Tony-nominated star of Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, is a contender to play the role of Christian Grey in the forthcoming film. As the entire universe knows by now, Sons of Anarchy star Charlie Hunnam has dropped out of the high-profile movie.

It’s been quite a year for Magnussen, who jumped from Broadway to play Rapunzel’s Prince in Rob Marshall’s forthcoming Into the Woods film, and has just been cast in HBO’s The Money, a pilot starring fellow 2013 Tony nominee Nathan Lane.

We’re rooting for this former Broadway.com Fresh Face to whip the role into shape!