Jamie Dornan snares role of Christian Grey in Fifty Shades of Grey film
Actor Jamie Dornan has reportedly bagged the role of bondage-loving business magnate Christian Grey in the upcoming Fifty Shades of Grey film.
The fledgling film project, to be directed by Sam Taylor-Wood, was thrown into casting turmoil when Charlie Hunnam dropped out of the adaptation earlier month, citing work and family commitments.
But, after screen-testing alternatives, the hunt appears to be over.
Variety reported that Dornan, who played Axel von Fersen in Sofia Coppola's film Marie Antoinette before achieving greater acclaim in ABC series Once Upon a Time, was offered the role after auditions last week.
He joins Dakota Johnson, who will co-star as the virginal heroine Anastasia Steele, and Jennifer Ehle, playing Anastasia's mother Carla. E L James's novel Fifty Shades of Grey - which became a phenomenon upon its 2011 release, selling 70 million copies and setting the record as the fastest-selling paperback to date - centres around the sado-masochistic sex life shared by college student Steele and the titular Grey.
The County Down-born actor is no stranger to sadistic characters; his performance as depraved killer Paul Spector in BBC2 drama The Fall had four and a half million viewers rapt this summer and earned the former Calvin Klein model critical acclaim.
The Universal and Focus Features picture is tipped for release in August 2014, with filming due to begin next month.
