Dakota Johnson and Charlie Hunnam cast as lead roles in the Fifty Shades of Grey movie

We may have JOKED about Fifty Shades of Grey before (that was April Fool's Day anyway). BUT this time, we're serious when we're reporting the main characters of the book adaptation have been cast. Dakota Johnson has been chosen to star as Anastasia Steele, the lead female character, and Charlie Hunnam has been chosen to star as Christian Grey, the lead male character in Universal Pictures and Focus Features’ highly anticipated film adaptation of “Fifty Shades of Grey,” The film, which will be released by Focus Features on August 1, 2014 in the US, is being directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson and produced by Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti alongside E L James, the author of the bestselling book on which the film is based.  The screenplay is by Kelly Marcel. [hit the jump to continue]

Ms. Johnson’s first notable screen role was in the multi-Academy Award-winning 2010 feature The Social Network, on which Mr. De Luca and Mr. Brunetti were producers.  Her subsequent movies include the upcoming feature Need for Speed, 21 Jump Street, and Universal Pictures’ The Five-Year Engagement.  She also starred as Kate in the Fox Network comedy series Ben and Kate, which aired during the 2012-2013 season.  Ms. Johnson is currently shooting the feature film Cymbeline.

Mr. Hunnam currently stars as a regular on the critically acclaimed FX series Sons of Anarchy.  His feature film credits include Pacific Rim, Children of Men, Cold Mountain, and Nicholas Nickleby.

“Fifty Shades of Grey” has become a global phenomenon and the trilogy has been translated in 50 languages worldwide since its release.  To date, the “Fifty Shades” trilogy has sold over 70 million copies worldwide in e-book and print, making it one of the fastest-selling book series ever.

Universal and Focus acquired the rights to the three books in the “Fifty Shades of Grey” trilogy in March 2012.  Focus Features will market and distribute the first film in partnership with Universal.

“Fifty Shades of Grey” follows the relationship of 27-year-old billionaire Christian Grey and college student Anastasia Steele.  Subsequent novels in the series, “Fifty Shades Darker” and “Fifty Shades Freed,” explore the couple’s deepening relationship.