Rumours are as rampant as the 50 Shades of Grey's novel's female protagonist, Anastasia Steele, regarding who will take the main roles in the upcoming movie - particularly that of dominating business magnate, Christian Grey.
With a name that sounds like the latest upgrade feature for a kid's Action Man toy crossed with a porn star, it may come as no surprise that US actor, Armie Hammer emerged as one of the strongest rumours to play the sado-masochistic billionaire of 50 Shades of Grey.
26 year-old Hammer, who will play the titular John Reid in the upcoming western adventure comedy, The Lone Ranger, alongside Johnny Depp, is most recognisable for playing the Winklevoss twins in 2010's The Social Network.
However, the LA-born actor has dismissed reports that he will be the man to take up the leather paddle, in an interview with Playboy: "No-one actually offered me the movie, but while I was working on Lone Ranger my agent brought it up, and I said "Nope". I mean, come on - it's just mommy porn."
Written by British fantasy author E.L James, the 50 Shades of Grey books surpassed the Harry Potter franchise to become the fastest-selling paperback of all time, topping bestseller lists worldwide by selling over 70 million copies.
After Universal and Focus Pictures secured the rights to the film in 2012, fevered rumours began to fly regarding the actors who would play the characters in the sexually charged work of erotica.
One of the only details that has been confirmed about the franchise - it's set to run for three films - is that it will be directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, a British director known for her 2009 film, Nowhere Boy, and who has been praised by Universal for a "unique ability to gracefully showcase complex relationships dealing with love, emotion and sexual chemistry."
Regardless, Armie seems perfectly cut out for the role - he's suave, handsome, sophisticated and what's more, in a recent interview with Playboy magazine, he described himself behind curtains as a "dominant lover" and admitted that before he settled down he "liked the grabbing of the neck and the hair and all that."
"And all that"? C'mon Armie, we'll want more juicy details than that if you're to become Christian Grey!
Christian Grey? Armie Hammer Looks The Part But Has Denied Rumours.
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