The film adaptation of the best-selling novel Fifty Shades Of Grey will be released in the US on August 1^st, 2014.

The film has been highly anticipated, given the widespread success of the books (70 million copies of E.L. James’ trilogy have been sold).

And yet, no cast members have been officially named as the stars of the Sam Taylor-Johnson feature.

The story follows the relationship between Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele, a college student.

The book received as much criticism as it did praise.

The film adaptation of the best-selling novel Fifty Shades Of Grey will be released in the US on August 1st, 2014

It is rather uplifting that Sam Taylor-Johnson, 46, has been attached to direct, despite having a rather small list of credits to her name.

As Forbes magazine noted, this may have been uncommon for women to date, but not for men – for example, Rupert Sanders was attached to direct Snow White And The Huntsmen with only commercials as credits.

The internet has been overflowing with rumors of who would be cast in the two lead roles. And while there has been no official confirmation as to who will play Christian Grey, some stars have categorically denied it.

Despite Sam Taylor-Johnson’s much younger husband Aaron Taylor-Wood, 23, being a potential choice for the male lead, his publicist told USA Today quite simply that: “Aaron is not doing 50 Shades Of Grey.”

Ian Somerhalder and Robert Pattinson have both been pinpointed as potential players for the male lead, but still nothing is official.

Emma Watson famously denied any potential involvement in the film via her Twitter account, writing: “Who here actually thinks I would do 50 Shades of Grey as a movie? Like really. For real. In real life.”

The movie will be produced by Dana Brunetti, producer of The Social Network and TV series House Of Cards, and distributed by Focus Features.