Universal and Focus Features’ adaptation of Fifty Shades of Grey is moving closer towards an August 2014 release date, but there are still many pieces of the puzzle to complete before filming can begin.  Director Sam Taylor-Johnson (Nowhere Boy) lost her leading man in Charlie Hunnam over the weekend as the actor opted to depart the project, and now the search is on for a replacement.  THR reports that Alexander Skarsgard (True Blood) and The Fall star Jamie Dornan are among the list of possible replacements, and the studio is also revisiting its previous list of candidates that includes Theo James (Divergent) and Christian Cooke (Magic City), though Garrett Hedlund is out of contention due to scheduling issues.

Hit the jump for more, including news regarding script rewrites.

Additionally, THR reports that Taylor-Johnson is bringing in Closer scribe Patrick Marber to do a polish on the screenplay, which was initially penned by Kelly Marcel.  Marber will apparently be doing “character work” on the script.  Dakota Johnson is still onboard as the film’s female lead, but a replacement for Hunnam needs to be locked soon or else the release date may have to be pushed.  Fifty Shades of Grey is currently slated to open August 1, 2014.

Here’s a synopsis for Fifty Shades of Grey:

When literature student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating.  The unworldly, innocent Ana is startled to realize she wants this man and, despite his enigmatic reserve, finds she is desperate to get close to him.  Unable to resist Ana’s quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her, too—but on his own terms.

Shocked yet thrilled by Grey’s singular erotic tastes, Ana hesitates.  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.  When the couple embarks on a daring, passionately physical affair, Ana discovers Christian Grey’s secrets and explores her own dark desires. [Amazon]