The Irish star of BBC drama The Fall is said to have replaced Charlie Hunnam to take the lead role in the movie adaptation.
50 Shades Of Grey movie bosses have signed up Irish actor Jamie Dornan to replace Charlie Hunnam as Christian Grey, reports are suggesting.
The 31-year-old star of BBC drama The Fall has reportedly been selected to play everyone's favourite S&M-loving CEO in the movie adaptation of E.L. James's bestselling erotic novel, following the Sons Of Anarchy star's shock departure a week and a half ago.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, negotiations with the Irish hunk are now underway, with Universal hoping to start production in early November. Although E.L. James has yet to confirm or deny the news, movie insiders are all claiming the report to be true.
After British-born Hunnam infamously backed out of the project earlier this month, a feverish pursuit began to find his replacement.
Irish dreamboat Jamie was always dubbed the frontrunner for the coveted lead role, and is thought to have taken part in a screen test last Friday opposite female lead Dakota Johnson for director Sam Taylor-Johnson, author E.L James and producers Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti.
Clearly Jamie impressed on the casting couch - with that beautiful face, we can't see how he couldn't - and if the rumours are true, will now be signed up for three, and possibly four, further 50 Shades movies depending on the success of the first installment.
Born in Northern Ireland, Dornan is a former Calvin Klein model and also dated Keira Knightley for two years. He first made a name for himself in Channel 5's Once Upon A Time before taking on the role of psychopath in BBC crime drama The Fall earlier this year.
Charlie Hunnam is rumoured to have pulled out of the mammoth movie franchise because he felt uncomfortable with the fame and frenzy that the project would bring - here's hoping handsome Irishman Jamie will take life in the spotlight as Hollywood's kinkiest billionaire all in his stride...
We'll bring you more updates as soon as we hear them!
The Fall's Jamie Dornan is the top new contender to play 50 Shades' Christian Grey
8 things you didn't know about Jamie Dornan
50 Shades of Grey: The real reason Charlie Hunnam quit
Got a tablet? You can now download Marie Claire magazine straight to your iPad, Kindle (just search the store for 'marie claire magazine'), Nook or Google Nexus.
