In the wake of Pacific Rim star Charlie Hunnam’s departure from the project earlier this month, Variety is reporting that “Once Upon a Time” star Jamie Dornan has landed the leading role of Christian Grey.
Dornan, who has also appeared on the big screen in films like Marie Antoinette and Shadows in the Sun, will star opposite Dakota Johnson and Jennifer Ehle in the August 1, 2014 release, to be directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson. The film will be based on E L James #1 bestselling book. Fifty Shades of Grey has been adapted into a screenplay by Kelly Marcel. Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti are producing the movie version alongside Ms. James.
Universal Pictures and Focus Features acquired the rights to the three books in the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy in March 2012. Focus Features will market and distribute the first film in partnership with Universal. “Fifty Shades of Grey” has become a global phenomenon and the trilogy has been translated in over 50 languages worldwide since its release. To date, the Fifty Shades trilogy has sold over 70 million copies worldwide in e-book and print, making it one of the fastest-selling book series ever.
“Fifty Shades of Grey” (first published in 2011) follows the relationship of 27-year-old billionaire Christian Grey and college student Anastasia Steele. Subsequent novels in the series, “Fifty Shades Darker” (2011) and “Fifty Shades Freed” (2012) explore the couples deepening relationship.
(Photo Credit: Vince Maher / WENN)
