Fifty Shades of Grey may take Nymphomaniac's lead with hard and softcore cuts

The producer of the upcoming adaptation of EL James's bestseller has hinted at an R-rated version, followed by an NC-17 take targeted at a more adult audience - a similar strategy as had been planned for Lars von Trier's Nymphomaniac

About 20% in the shade … Jamie Dornan guest-starring in Once Upon a Time Photograph: Craig Sjodin/Kharen Hill/AP

Mega-hyped sex drama Fifty Shades of Grey could be released in two different versions, with a second cut including more explicit material,according to the film's producer.


Dana Brunetti told the Collider blog the additional version might be released a few weeks after the original cut in an effort to satisfy fans of EL James's bestselling source novel hoping for a "grittier" take. It is understood the first cut would be aimed at securing an "R" rating in the US (similar to a UK 15), while version two would target an "NC-17" (close to a UK 18).

Fifty Shades of Grey: Jamie Dornan takes the lead

The actor, best known for his role in BBC drama The Fall, is to take over the lead from Charlie Hunnam, who pulled out of the EL James adaptation a fortnight ago

Actor Jamie Dornan is to play kinky billionaire Christian in the upcoming big screen take on salacious literary sensation Fifty Shades of Grey,according to Variety.

Dornan replaces Charlie Hunnam, who left the role earlier this month amid rumors that the Sons of Anarchy and Pacific Rim star had been spooked by overwhelming fan attention, or may have required more input into the script than producers were willing to grant. Studio Universal and director Sam Taylor-Johnson have been searching for a replacement ever since, with the project due for release in nine months time and shooting to start imminently.

Dornan stars as Sheriff Graham Humbert in the ABC series Once Upon a Time and also plays a serial killer in Belfast-set BBC2 crime drama The Fall. His film roles include a Swedish count in Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette. Aged 31, Dornan has also modeled for Calvin Klein, Christian Dior and Armani.

Producers made the decision to cast the County Down-born actor after screen testing him with Dakota Johnson, who remains in the lead female role of Grey's virginal paramour, Anastasia Steele. Fifty Shades centres on Grey's recruitment of Anastasia to be his well-remunerated sex slave. It is expected to be the first of a trilogy based on British author EL James' three bestselling novels.

Taylor-Johnson was revealed as the director of the film version in June. The artist turned film-maker, whose only feature film to date is the acclaimed 2009 John Lennon biopic Nowhere Boy, reportedly beat out luminaries of the calibre of Joe Wright, Bennett Miller and Gus van Sant.

Fifty Shades of Grey is due to hit cinemas in August 2014. Producers now hope to wrap up the cast by finding an actor to play Anastasia's flat-mate, Kate. Jennifer Ehle has been cast as the young student's hapless mother, Carla.

The casting of Dornan has not yet been officially confirmed by Universal or James, who has made previous announcements about the film on Twitter.

• Hunnam 'required script approval', Hunnam 'too busy', Hunnam 'has cold feet', Hunnam 'unpopular with fans'

Source: the guardian