50 Shades of Grey Movie Casting News UPDATE: Lucy Hale, Ian Harding as Anastasia Steele, Christian Grey? Kinky 'Pretty Little Liars' [POLL]

Several "Fifty Shades of Grey" fans picture "Vampire Diaries" heartthrob Ian Somerhalder starring alongside the stunning Lucy Hale in E.L. James' kinky film adaptation of her hit erotica book series. But what about Hale's hunky "Pretty Little Liars" co-star, Ian Harding? Okay, so "Fifty Shades" enthusiasts may be getting a little sick-and-tired of all the unofficial casting rumors and gossip. But just picture it... the pretty 23-year-old brunette bombshell getting down and dirty with the handsome 26-year-old German actor. Are they compatible for the highly-coveted roles of Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey?

As Mstarz originally reported, here's why Hale remains a hot Anastasia Steele contender:

The stunning up-and-coming starlet has captured recent attention in several "Fifty Shades" casting polls for Anastasia Steele. Hale could definitely pull off the innocent, girl-next-door turned experimental bad girl (behind closed doors) vibe. Not only does she fit the physical description well - a young brunette with a fresh face and pretty features - but her mysterious, alluring persona is one which could definitely capture the heart of Grey. Hale's portrayal of Aria Montgomery - the beautiful and artsy "weird girl" on ABC Family's hit television adaptation of Sarah Shepard's cult novel series "Pretty Little Liars" - have some "Fifty Shades" fans buzzing. Hale has starred in many small roles both on TV and on the big screen - "Bionic Woman," "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2," "Privileged," "Scream 4," and "American Juniors" among several others - which demonstrates her maturing acting ability without typecasting her in any specific Hollywood genre role (which is exactly what E.L. James is looking for).

So how about her "Pretty Little Liars" co-star, Ian Harding? The duo remain on-and-off lovers throughout the series. As Aria's professor, Ezra Fitzgerald (Harding) initially has a hard time accepting their unconventional romance. But sparks soon fly and they delve into a hot and sexual courtship. Fitzgerald eventually leaves Aria to seek out an ex-girlfriend and illegitimate son... and that is where things stand as of now.

Take a look... with those chiseled features, piercing eyes, dark mane, and charming smile... maybe Harding could make the perfect Christian Grey fit! And considering he's still a fresh-face in Hollywood, this might be his perfect opportunity to make a splash in the film industry, without bringing along any genre stereotypes to the role:

Hale once Instagramed a pic of Harding with the caption, "50 Shades of Harding." Who agrees!

Okay, so all this "Fifty Shades of Grey" casting hoopla may be getting a tad bit out-of-hand, but it's still fun to experiment with potential Grey and Steele sweethearts, right?

FYI - rumors have it that E.L. James and producers are aiming for a summer 2014 release date. That's just a little over a year away!