HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Porn star James Deen is rumored to be in the running for the much sought after role of Christian Grey in Focus Features' upcoming adaptation of E.L. James' "Fifty Shades of Grey."
Bret Easton Ellis, author of "American Psycho" and screenwriter of "The Canyons," Deen's recently wrapped mainstream acting debut, took to Twitter over the Labor Day weekend to leak the news.
"Just got inside information that James Deen is actually in the running to play Christian in "Fifty Shades of Grey" with E.L. James support," Ellis tweeted. "'Fifty Shades of Grey' will be budgeted at 12-15 million and James Deen is on the list of actors to play Christian Grey according to source."
Ellis, who had campaigned to pen the Hollywood adaptation of James' record-breaking bestseller, also tweeted that the "Fifty Shades of Grey" script would be written by a woman and would star an unknown actress in the role of Anastasia Steele.
Ellis was instrumental in landing Deen his role in acclaimed director Paul Schrader's "The Canyons," a relationship drama about emotionally screwed up Los Angelenos, in which Deen plays an arrogant film producer opposite Lindsay Lohan former model character.
Deen declined XBIZ's request to comment on this story.
