After months of speculation and secrecy, the two leads for the upcoming adaption of the mega-popular erotica novel 50 Shades of Grey have been cast. Author E.L. James revealed the casting choice via her Twitter account, announcing that the "gorgeous and talented" Charlie Hunnam and the "lovely" Dakota Johnson have been chosen as the film's leads.

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Hunnam (R) and Johnson (L) have been chosen as the stars of the upcoming movie

Brit-actor Hunnam, best known for his roles in UK drama Queer as Folk and biker series Sons of Anarchy, beat off competition form the likes of Ryan Gosling and Channing Tatum for the coveted role as sadomasochist of Grey, meanwhile Johnson emerged as the star ahead of Emilia Clarke and Emma Watson for the role as the submissive Steele. Johnson has previously appeared in the Social Network, 21 Jump Street and The Five-Year Engagement.



The long-time-coming movie adaptation of the book series, which also includes Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed, will be directed by Nowhere Boy director Sam Taylor-Johnson, with filming due to get underway before the end of 2013. Movie versions of the equally as popular sequels to James' original novel are also set to be made into films, providing that the first attempt from Universal Pictures is a success that is. The movie version of Fifty Shades of Grey is scheduled for release in August 2014.

What do you make of the appointments? Is Dakota the right person to portray the young and innocent Steele and is Hunnam more of an Elliot-like character than a Christian Grey? Tell us your view in the comments section below.

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Has the right casting decision been made?