Matt Bomer "Flattered" by Fifty Shades of Grey Casting Rumors, Plans to Appear in Magic Mike XXL

Normal Heart star covers Details magazine's May 2014 issue

By Zach Johnson Apr 24, 2014 1:29 PMTags
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Long before Charlie Hunnam was cast in the Fifty Shades of Grey movie—and later replaced by North Irish actor Jamie Dornan—fans of the best-selling book trilogy lobbied for Matt Bomer to play Christian Grey. At one point, an online petition was created to cast the actor in the buzzed about flick.

While shooting the cover for the May 2014 issue of Details, Bomer said he had "no idea" why he was seen as a frontrunner. "Obviously, I'm incredibly flattered that so many people thought of me. To be honest with you, I've never read any of the books so I don't know what it was that tipped people off that way or made them think of me, but it was sort of like this really strange and interesting cloud that came in and went away I guess. I'm sure it's great though. I bet the movie is going to be amazing."

Bomer—who next appears in HBO's The Normal Heart and currently stars in USA's White Collar—also hopes to reprise his role as a stripper named Ken in Magic Mike XXL. "Those guys, we had such a criminally good time working together. It was like a band of thieves really," he said. "We just hit it off. It was such an ensemble mentality, which didn't have to be the case under those circumstances."

"[Channing Tatum] is so great and gracious and [Matthew McConaughey] was such a great leader that everybody had a great time," he said. "So if it were to come together under the right circumstances with a good script, which I'm sure [Reid Carolin] is putting together, it'll be really fun to do."

What was the hardest part about shooting Magic Mike? "I was fantasizing about food for that last month," said Bomer, who has three children with husband Simon Halls. "I cooked Thanksgiving dinner for about 12 people right when we wrapped. I was probably a little hasty, but it tasted really good."

Bomer stays active when time permits. "I just get to the gym when I can," he said. "I wouldn't say it's anything special. I like to get outside, sweat, get dirty and just try to take care of myself."