Fifty Shades of Grey has its male lead - again.

Jamie Dornan has been cast as Christian Grey, the lead role that Charlie Hunnam withdrew from recently.

Dornan will star alongside female lead Dakota Johnson, with Sam Taylor-Johnson directing. Shooting is planned to begin in November, with a release in August next year.

Hunnam's departure left the project momentarily reeling. The big-screen adaption of EL James' bestselling erotic novel has been carefully followed by its fans, who were critical of Hunnam's casting.

The 31-year-old Dornan, a former model from Northern Ireland, is relatively unknown. He's starred in the British TV series The Fall and the ABC series Once Upon a Time.

Unlike with Hunnam, social media reaction to Dornan's casting was generally positive.

"I'm a monstrous fan. Wasn't allowed to be attracted to him on The Fall because he played a sexmurderer. 50 Shades is my big chance! Wait, Christian Grey isn't a murderer right?" wrote Girls star Lena Dunham on Twitter.

- AP