Dakota Johnson is helping producers pick a new Christian Grey for Fifty Shades of Grey.
The actress, who is set to play protagonist Anastasia Steele in the adaptation of E.L. James’ best-selling erotic novel, has joined movie bosses in the hunt to find a new co-star after her former leading man Charlie Hunnam dropped out of the kinky role earlier this month.
Producer Michael De Luca said Johnson has been “a rock” as they face a stressful mission to find a new Christian Grey before production begins on November 1.
He added to E! News: “She’s just so Anastasia Steele. She’s the best partner a producer could have.”
According to the producer, Johnson has been putting potential leading men to the test in auditions to ensure there is dynamic chemistry between the actors, who will be required to film numerous saucy scenes together.
He said: “She’s helping us look through the candidates to see which chemistry kind of captures our attention.”
The Fall actor Jamie Dornan has emerged as a frontrunner to replace Hunnam in the Universal-produced movie and it’s reported that studio boss Donna Langley approached him just before they announced the Sons of Anarchy actor’s departure from the project.
Into the Woods and Hunger Games actor Billy Magnussen has also been linked to the part.
