Fifty Shades of Grey Casting: Robert Pattinson Was Author E.L. James' First Choice for Christian Grey Role

Twilight heartthrob Robert Pattinson was reportedly Fifty Shades of Grey author E.L. James' top choice to play the role of Christian Grey in the film version of the best-selling erotic novel.

Author and screenwriter Bret Easton Ellis took to Twitter to verify the news and silenced the casting rumours that actors including Matt Bomer and The Vampire Diaries star Ian Somerhalder were ever in the running.

"Talked to E.L. James at a party over the summer: her first choice for Christian was Rob Pattinson and Matt Bomer was never in the running," he tweeted, adding, "E.L. James and I were at Rob Pattinson's house when she admitted that Rob was first choice for Christian. Ian Somerhalder never in running."

"When E.L. James asked me who I thought should be Christian I said "James Deen, of course" and then she shoved me. We were both very wasted," he joked.

In June, the 27-year-old Remember Me actor had set tongues wagging after inviting James to a party he hosted - a Great Gatsby-themed birthday party for friend and Arbitrage director Nick Jarecki.

James, whose real name is Erika Mitchell, announced that Dakota Johnson will be playing Anastasia Steele and Sons of Anarchystar Charlie Humman will be paired opposite her.

It was previously revealed that the film will release in the United States on 1 July next year. British visual artist and filmmaker Sam Taylor-Johnson will be directing a script written Kelly Marcel. Dana Brunetti and Michael De Luca (producers of Oscar-winning The Social Network) will work behind the scenes, with James as well.