'Fifty Shades Of Grey' release date pushed back to 2015

The release date of the eagerly-anticipated Fifty Shades Of Grey film has been pushed back by around six months.

The big screen adaptation of EL James's blockbuster erotic novel was originally set to open in cinemas worldwide on August 1, 2014 but will now arrive the following Valentine's Day (February 14, 2015), Entertainment Weekly has confirmed.

Filming on the Universal Pictures movie has been recently delayed following the sudden exit of Charlie Hunnam and last-minute casting of Jamie Dornan. Director Sam Taylor Wood will now start shooting on December 2 of this year - around a month later than originally planned.

However, Universal Pictures chairman Donna Langley has insisted the main reason for the release date change is strategic, telling Entertainment Weekly: "We see this movie as a global event. The strength of this book is really worldwide, so we want to be able to take advantage of women who are invariably on vacation with their families during the month of August in Europe."

Sons Of Anarchy star Hunnam was originally hired to play sexually adventurous businessman Christian Grey but dropped out last month (October) citing his "immersive TV schedule". Northern Irish actor Dornan - best known for his roles in US fantasy series Once Upon A Time and BBC Two's hit serial killer drama The Fall - has since been drafted in to replace him.

Dakota Johnson (pictured right) will co-star as Anastasia Steele, the college graduate who enters into an intense sexual relationship with the older and dominant Grey. Pride And Prejudice actress Jennifer Ehle and True Blood's Luke Grimes will appear in supporting roles.

Shooting will take place in Vancouver, Canada and Taylor-Wood is directing from a script Kelly Marcel (Saving Mr Banks, Terra Firma) has adapted from EL James's blockbuster erotic novel.