( CNN ) -- It may have been one of the most eagerly anticipated casting choices of the year , and we now know the leads in the film adaptation of `` Fifty Shades of Grey . '' The novel 's author , E.L. James , tweeted on Monday that actor Charlie Hunnam will portray Christian Grey , and actress Dakota Johnson has been cast as Anastasia Steele . The highly successful erotic novel was released in 2011 , and fans have been speculating about who might portray the two main characters since plans for a film were announced last year . A psychology lecturer at the University of Central Lancashire even put a face to the character of billionaire Grey , who has had readers all aflame . Now , the fantasy will come to life in the form of Hunnam , who is one of the stars of the film `` Pacific Rim '' and the television series `` Sons of Anarchy . '' Johnson is the daughter of actors Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson and has appeared in the films `` The Five-Year Engagement '' and `` 21 Jump Street . '' Let the cheers -- or the jeers -- begin !
We now know the stars of the `` Fifty Shades of Grey '' movie . Charlie Hunnam and Dakota Johnson have been cast . Johnson is the daughter of Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson .