MUMBAI: The release of the highly anticipated film adaptation of Fifty Shades of Grey has been extended by six months. The film was originally intended to release on 1 August 2014, but now the film will hit theatres in February 2015 on the same weekend as Valentine’s Day.

The delay has probably happened because after Charlie Hunnam dropped out of the male lead role, the shooting was put back.

Now, Jamie Dornan will be portraying the role of Christian Grey, opposite Dakota Johnson.

The British actor has earlier worked in BBC drama The Fall and US fantasy series Once Upon A Time.

Published in 2011, Fifty Shades of Grey follows the sexually charged relationship between billionaire Grey and college student Anastasia Steele.