'50 Shades of Grey' Finds Director in Sam Taylor-Johnson, Armie Hammer to Star?

Rumors remain rampant as to who's going to star in the film adaptation of "50 Shades of Grey" but Universal Pictures has at least let fans know who'll be directing the flick. Brit Sam Taylor-Johnson will helm the shoot, but there's been no announcement as to when shooting is set to begin. 

Taylor-Johnson has made a name for herself as a visual artist in England, but also rose to directing prominence with her 2009 film "Nowhere Boy" (She also made headlines for marrying the film's star, "Kickass" actor Aaron Johnson, who's 23 years younger than the director). 

Universal's statement on the decision described Taylor-Johnson's "unique ability to gracefully showcase complex relationships dealing with love, emotion and sexual chemistry make her the ideal director."

"Complex relationships" is an understatement when describing the "50 Shades" series. The books have made headlines for the last few years thanks to their erotic content and huge sales. Author E.L. James threw her support behind the directorial decision. The writer said via Twitter that she was "delighted and thrilled." 

But, as mentioned before, much of the steam powering the "50 Shades" film gossip mill revolves around who'll be playing the film's main characters: billionaire Christian Grey and his sado-masochistic plaything Anastasia Steele. There have been roughly 50,000 names thrown around for both roles but absolutely nothing has been confirmed, and most have been denied. The most recent name in the ring for the role of Grey has been "The Lone Ranger" star Armie Hammer, but the actor categorically denied it to Playboy magazine. 

"I said 'Nope,'" Hammer stated. "I mean, come on - it's just mommy porn. I'm not going to sit on top of the laundry machine in spin cycle ... That doesn't do it for me."