Questionable Casting

So, finally, the lead actors (Dakota Johnson and Charlie Hunnam) have been cast for the movie version of Fifty Shades of Grey.  OK.  I'm not familiar with the work of either actor and I never read the book (nor any of its sequels), but it was my understanding from what I've read online that neither character was blond yet both actors cast in the movie are blond.  Huh?  Did the dark-haired folks not make the cut or simply run from this train wreck in the making when approached?  Still, there's money to be had here, folks and there are a lot of hungry actors out there looking for a break to the big time.  It remains to be seen whether this film will turn a profit, but I fail to believe the people who bought and read the book won't turn out to see the movie.  If even a fraction of them shell out the cash for the movie version, money will be made.  As the casting shows, they're not shelling out big bucks for star talent here and, I suspect, the production costs will be minimal.  I don't think there are any huge action sequences to be filmed with explosions and car crashes.  Clearly, this won't be a Jerry Bruckheimer production.

In other questionable casting, why was Ben Affleck cast as Nick in Gone Girl?  (Now, this book I did read, so I can speak with a little more authority here.)  Nick was supposed to be a bro in his early/mid-30s, light-haired, and have looks that typically would be called "all-American" and they cast 40-something, dark-haired, not-all-American-looking Affleck?  I understand having a big name will sell the movie, but Affleck?  There is nothing about him that in any way resembles the character Nick.  Nothing.  He's not boy-next-door cute and charming.  He looks like the dude who should be scanning your bags at the airport, not talking you out of your panties.  Armie Hammer should have been cast (or someone who looks like him).  Hammer's a little young, but he has the right look for Nick and I'm sure he could use a hit after The Lone Ranger bombed.