Dornan is in negotiations to replace Charlie Hunnam, as Universal hopes to start production in early November. 
 
 Jamie Dornan has been chosen as the new Christian Grey for Universal and Focus’ adaptation of Fifty Shades of Grey, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. Negotiations with the actor now are underway. 
 
 Charlie Hunnam infamously backed out of the project a week and a half ago, setting off a feverish pursuit to find his replacement. 
 
 PHOTOS: Stars Misaligned: Charlie Hunnam Quits 'Fifty Shades' and 15 Other Casting Near-Misses 
 
 The U.K.-based Dornan was first revealed as a contender for the role of kinky billionaire Grey by THR on Oct. 14. He is the star of the U.K. series The Fall and might be best-known to U.S. audiences for playing the Huntsman in ABC's Once Upon a Time. Born in Northern Ireland, he's a former Calvin Klein model and dated Keira Knightley for two years. 
 
 Dornan, 31, actually was contacted before Hunnam officially dropped out, and tested Friday opposite female lead Dakota Johnson for director Sam Taylor-Johnson, author EL James and producers Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti. Tony-nominated actor Billy Magnussen also tested, as did Francois Arnaud from The Borgias, according to sources. 
 
 Dornan will now face the blinding spotlight of both fans of the best-selling trilogy and the media. Hunnam and Universal cited a scheduling conflict as the reason for his exit, but THR reported that he was uncomfortable with the frenzy surrounding the project. Universal was forced to hire bodyguards for the Sons of Anarchy actor at a premiere, and two appearances to promote the show were canceled. Hunnam, who also is a writer (he penned the gothic horror screenplay Vlad for Brad Pitt's Plan B and Summit Entertainment), is said to have had issues with Kelly Marcel's adaptation of the book. The script is getting a polish by Patrick Marber (Notes on a Scandal). 
 
 Universal was under pressure to begin production Nov. 1 on the high-profile project in order to meet an Aug. 1, 2014, release date. If Dornan's deal closes, he will be signed for three and possibly four Fifty Shades movies based on the erotic book, assuming the first film is successful. 
 
 THR also has learned that Universal and Focus had approached Juno Temple to play Anastasia Steele's (Johnson) best friend and Frank Grillo to play Grey's bodyguard. Both actors passed on the roles, according to sources. 
 
 RELATED: Charlie Hunnam's 'Fifty Shades' Script Showdown and the Chaotic Final Days 
 
 Dornan is repped by UTA. ||||| “Fifty Shades of Grey” author E.L. James should count her blessings as she counts her millions. 
 
 Her best-selling book — which, despite its popularity, is pretty rough source material — was stripped of its worst parts and turned into a surprisingly warm screenplay by Kelly Marcel (“Saving Mr. Banks”). 
 
 The director of the much-anticipated adaptation, Sam Taylor-Johnson, made what could have been a trashy TV movie into well-conceived cinema. 
 
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 And James’s heroine, Anastasia Steele — a character who spends much of the “Fifty” trilogy rambling on about her “inner goddess” and her obsession with her controlling boyfriend — is turned into a human by Dakota Johnson, a comedic actress who manages to make the character seem like someone worth knowing. 
 
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 It’s Johnson who saves the day as Ana, a graduating college senior who is sent to interview the dapper and brooding 27-year-old billionaire Christian Grey. The loner businessman tells Ana that his tastes are “singular.” By that he means he likes S&M. He’s a dominant in search of a submissive who will take orders and spankings in the “red room” of his penthouse, which is stocked with toys for pleasure and pain. 
 
 Critics of James’s books have said that the S&M in the story is laughable. Maybe so. Christian succumbs to cuddling almost as often as he spanks. 
 
 The sex in the movie follows a similar path. “Fifty” has more sex scenes than your typical R-rated film, but the content isn’t any more shocking than what’s on cable. Shows like “Sons of Anarchy” and “Outlander” have just as many bare butts and tight shots of intercourse. 
 
 Really, the sexiest parts of the film aren’t the sex scenes (which sort of become tedious), but rather the banter between Ana and Christian as they set the terms of their relationship. 
 
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 Johnson (daughter of Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson), who charmed with shrugs and eye-rolls on the short-lived Fox comedy “Ben and Kate,” helps turn James’s tale into an unexpected romantic comedy. The best vignettes have her fully clothed and working to get a laugh out of Christian, played with awkwardness by Irish actor Jamie Dornan. 
 
 Dornan isn’t unlikable, but his Christian comes off as an angry geek as opposed to a cool guy. His discomfort — and constant constipation face — doesn’t help with chemistry, but it does turn Christian Grey into a guy who could exist. Whereas James’s Christian is superhuman with a dash of “American Psycho,” Dornan’s version is a just a 27-year-old introvert pretending to be bad. He’s the least dominant dominant — a guy who’d much prefer to be told what to do. 
 
 It’s only when Christian becomes the star of the story that the film starts to get tiresome. The second half is too focused on why Mr. Grey is such a bummer. Even Ana starts to look bored. 
 
 For those who don’t know, the real source material here is actually “Twilight,” the young adult vampire series by Stephenie Meyer. James’s three-part S&M saga started out as fan fiction based on Meyer’s stories. Anastasia Steele is the clumsy heroine inspired by Bella Swan. Christian Grey is James’s Edward Cullen (he’s into spanking as opposed to blood sucking). 
 
 Watching the adaptation of “Fifty” makes it clear how much the story borrows from “Twilight,” specifically the films. The first big shot of Johnson has her dressed as if she’s wearing a Kristen Stewart costume for Halloween. Later, a scene in which Ana meets her friend Jose (the “Fifty Shades” version of Taylor Lautner’s Jacob) looks like a knockoff -- the “Twilight” version of “Grease 2.” 
 
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 Ana and Christian’s first big sex scene is set to a haunting song by Sia, who also performed the tune that plays when Bella and Edward get engaged in the third installment of “Twilight.” 
 
 The parallels aren’t a problem — fans of the vampire franchise will be thrilled. James’s fans should be, too. It was “Twilight,” after all, that hooked them in the first place. 
 
 Watch the trailer: 
 
 Meredith Goldstein can be reached at Meredith.Goldstein@Globe.com ||||| Northern Irish actor Jamie Dornan has been tapped to replace Charlie Hunnam as Christian Grey in the Universal and Focus adaptation of “Fifty Shades of Grey.” 
 
 Dornan plays Sheriff Graham Humbert in ABC series “Once Upon a Time”; he’s also played a serial killer in BBC Two crime drama “The Fall,” and he appeared in Sofia Coppola’s “Marie Antoinette.” The 31-year-old thesp performs in an Irish folk duo and has modeled for Calvin Klein, Christian Dior and Armani. His modeling experience may be useful, as the part will require him to act in explicitly sexual scenes. 
 
 PHOTOS: Jamie Dornan, From Model to “Fifty Shades” 
 
 Dakota Johnson will co-star as Anastasia Steele, with Sam Taylor-Johnson on board to direct. 
 
 Universal and Focus Features declined to comment. 
 
 The project was hit with a huge curveball when Hunnam departed after being attached for just a month. Universal said Hunnam’s exit was due to scheduling issues with “Sons of Anarchy” and upcoming movie “Crimson Peak,” but some sources said battles over a rewrite and the actor’s doubts about the role may have played a part in his decision. 
 
 PHOTOS: Christian Grey Casting: A Timeline 
 
 When Hunnam exited, U and Focus execs decided to go for more of a discovery and brought in Dornan and Billy Magnussen to test with Johnson last Friday. Though the studio considered bringing in more actors to test, as of Wednesday morning sources said no one else had been brought in. 
 
 Universal will now work quickly to land thesps for the remaining supporting roles that include Steele’s roommate Kate, a role for which U had already been testing actresses prior to Hunnam’s exit. 
 
 Michael De Luca is on to produce the adaptation of E.L. James’ sexy bestseller, which is set to bow Aug. 1, 2014. 
 
 Dornan is repped by UTA and United Agents.
– After 50 million different rumors, the Internet has its answer as to who will play Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey on the big screen: Anastasia is none other than Dakota Johnson, the 24-year-old daughter of Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith, and perhaps previously best known for Fox sitcom Ben & Kate, and minor roles in The Social Network and The Five-Year Engagement. "I am delighted to let you know that the lovely Dakota Johnson has agreed to be our Anastasia in the film adaptation of Fifty Shades of Grey," tweeted author EL James this morning. James later tweet-dropped: "the gorgeous and talented Charlie Hunnam" as the actor who would portray Grey. Click for more Social Network alums working on the project.