Charlie Hunnam and Dakota Johnson will star as Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele respectively in the highly anticipated upcoming film adaption of "Fifty Shades of Grey."
Author E.L. James, who penned the "Fifty Shades" book trilogy, announced the long-awaited casting news on Twitter Monday.
"Fifty Shades of Grey" took the literary world by storm in 2011 with its near X-rated storyline about an innocent college student, Ana Steele, who embarks on an erotic, sadomasochistic relationship with Christian Grey, a successful, yet troubled, millionaire entrepreneur.
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The series' loyal fan base has long been awaiting the casting announcements, with speculation brewing online ever since it was revealed that the book would be turned into a movie. Favorites for Christian included Ian Somerhalder, Matt Bomer, Chris Pine, and Henry Cavill, while Emma Watson, Amanda Seyfried, and Mila Kunis were rumored to be starring as Ana in the film.
Hunnam, 33, is best known for his part as Jax Teller on FX's "Sons of Anarchy." Johnson, the 23-year-old daughter of Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson, appeared in the 2012 "21 Jump Street" remake, "Five Year Engagement," and the short-lived Fox sitcom "Ben & Kate."
"Fifty Shades of Grey" is scheduled to hit the box office Aug. 1, 2014.
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