The production of Fifty Shades of Grey - due to start shooting in November in advance of a proposed August 2014 release - was thrown into disarray when the lead Charlie Hunnam dropped out earlier this month. Trade publications such as Variety and The Hollywood Reporter are claiming that a replacement has been found in the form of County Down's rising star Jamie Dornan.

31-year old Dornan has been seen on screens most recently as the serial killer at the centre of TV show The Fall, which has been renewed for a second series. He was also a main character during the first season of US show Once Upon a Time. However, he has so far had a minimal big screen presence, with a supporting role in 2006's Marie Antoinette his highest-profile gig yet.

Today's reports suggest that Dornan is in the final stages of agreeing a deal with the film's producers. If he agrees to take over from Hunnam, he will star alongside female lead Dakota Johnson. Director Sam Taylor-Johnson still has many of the film's supporting roles left to cast.

Hunnam has previously explained he dropped out of the film due to scheduling conflicts with Sons of Anarchy and Guillermo Del Toro's next project Crimson Peak. Some sites reported that he may have also had issues with the Fifty Shades... script, having sought his own suggested changes to the screenplay. Hunnam had also been subjected to a vocal fan backlash on social media following the announcement of his casting.