( CNN ) -- `` Fifty Shades of Grey '' has found its new leading man in Jamie Dornan , according to the author of the best-selling trilogy . `` Stow your twitchy palms ladies ... our man is here . Welcome to # TeamFifty @ JamieDornan1 , '' writer E.L. James said in a Twitter post on Thursday . The author 's revelation comes after industry trades like The Hollywood Reporter and Variety cited sources saying the 31-year-old actor has been tapped to replace Charlie Hunnam , the `` Sons of Anarchy '' actor who was originally cast as Christian Grey and dropped out in mid-October . So far , Universal Studios and the actor 's representatives have n't commented on the reports . Dornan 's name may not be that familiar to American audiences , but his face might be . The star , who was born in Northern Ireland , got his start as a model for brands like Dior , Armani and Calvin Klein and posed alongside top names like Kate Moss . Jamie Dornan : Who is he ? Before he landed acting roles on U.S. shows like ABC 's `` Once Upon A Time , '' on which he played the Huntsman/Sheriff Graham , Dornan was known mainly to U.S. celebrity watchers as the guy dating fellow Brit Keira Knightley . In the UK , he stars in the BBC 's psychological thriller `` The Fall . '' While Dornan had been considered the front-runner after Hunnam 's exit , his was n't the only name said to be in consideration . The actor reportedly had competition from British actor Christian Cooke , `` The Borgias ' '' Francois Arnaud and `` True Blood '' star Alexander Skarsgard . Hunnam , meanwhile , is looking forward to family time . Charlie Hunnam speaks on '50 Shades ' exit . `` I am doing good ( after dropping 'Fifty Shades ' ) , '' the 33-year-old recently told E ! News . `` Just trying to stay focused and stay positive and keep trying to do a good job at work and be with my family . '' Hunnam was faced with an onslaught of attention , both positive and negative , after his casting announcement , sparking speculation that he exited the part because of the overwhelming amount of interest . However , studio Universal said Hunnam 's TV schedule did n't give him time to adequately prepare to play Christian Grey . Production was expected to begin on the film , adapted from E.L. James ' erotic best-seller and to be directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson , in early November . The studio has already announced a scheduled release date of August 1 , 2014 . Although the project has weathered this casting challenge , its leading lady has n't gone anywhere . Dakota Johnson , the daughter of Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson who has starred in the TV series `` Ben and Kate , '' is still on board to play protagonist Anastasia Steele . CNN 's Carolyn Sung and Henry Hanks contributed to this report .
NEW : `` Fifty Shades '' author confirms : Jamie Dornan has been cast as Christian Grey . The 31-year-old is known for modeling for Calvin Klein . He has also appeared in ABC 's `` Once Upon A Time '' `` Fifty Shades '' is expected to arrive on August 1 , 2014 .