Jamie Dornan in an advertisement for Dior HommeDIOR
Ladies and gentlemen, meet your new Christian Grey.
Irish actor and model Jamie Dornan has landed the role in the adaptation of the E.L. James erotic novel Fifty Shades of Grey, Variety first reported on Wednesday night.
Charlie Hunnam, the Sons of Anarchy actor who was originally cast in the role, dropped out just a few weeks ago, leaving the studio behind the movie scrambling to replace him.
Hunnam said he abandoned the film because of a scheduling conflict, although there have been reports that he was uncomfortable with the firestorm of criticism that surrounded his casting announcement.
With filming set to begin on Nov. 1, Hunnam had to be replaced, fast.
Dornan, 31, is hardly a household name. He's modelled for Calvin Klein and Armani, and played Sheriff Graham Humbert in the TV show Once Upon a Time. He's also played a serial killer in the BBC drama The Fall.
Given the sexually explicit nature of the novel, some commenters have said that Dornan's modelling experience will be an asset. After all, you want to be comfortable in you skivvies when you're filming sex scenes.
There's no doubt the man looks good sans shirt and pants, as just about everyone has noted.
So far, the announcement that Dornan will be taking up the role hasn't met with any of the outcry following the news that Hunnam would be playing the kinky billionaire. But that's not to say it won't happen.
The film is scheduled for release next August.
Dave McGinn