’50 Shades of Grey’ casting dreams

Move over "Twilight" and "The Hunger Games," now there's something kinkier. For the next big literary franchise turned Hollywood blockbuster, look no further than the top three spots of The New York Times Best Sellers List. Comfortably perched atop the list is an erotic trilogy written by first-time fiction author, E.L. James: "Fifty Shades of Grey," "Fifty Shades Darker," and "Fifty Shades Freed."

Obviously the trilogy is hot -- both in terms of book sales and content -- but what's really heating up are the rumors about who's going to play the lead character, Christian Grey, when Universal releases the forthcoming film adaptations.

[Related: "The Hunger Games" sequel casting conjecture]

In case you're not up on your erotic fiction, Christian Grey is the gorgeous, enigmatic, and sexually deviant young billionaire who enters a BDSM relationship with a recent college graduate, the innocent and independent Anastasia Steele. (We're still piecing together exactly what BDSM means, but it has something to do with bondage, dominance, submission, sadism, and masochism — though not necessarily in that order.)

While it's readily apparent that audiences are intrigued by Grey's kinky streak, there's much more to him than whips and chains. To get a better sense of exactly who he is, let's go straight to the source: E.L. James's website, eljamesauthor.com, describes Grey as "a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating." The description goes on to say, "For all the trappings of success — his multinational businesses, his vast wealth, his loving family -- Grey is a man tormented by demons and consumed by the need to control."

[Related: Men are fans, too, of 'Fifty Shades of Grey']

Whoever lands the role will have to be, not just sexy, but also mysterious and complex. One of the most bandied about names for the part is Ian Somerhalder of the TV series "Vampire Diaries" (2009), where he plays vampire Damon Salvatore, who just so happens to be both sexy and mysterious. Somerhalder recently appeared on "Chelsea Lately" and spoke of his desire to win the role of Christian Grey, as well as his modest penchant for S&M. It got us thinking, dreaming really, about whether Somerhalder would be the best man for the job.

But we're entertainment journalists, not casting experts, so it seems more fitting to leave the casting decisions up to people who really know about such things: namely, you! So please, let us know who you think would be best for the part in the poll below, and if you don't see your pick, by all means, add your faves in the comments.