Is Ian Somerhalder Really Replacing Jamie Dornan In ‘Fifty Shades Freed’?

Jamie Dornan addressed rumors that Ian Somerhalder is replacing him as Christian Grey in the hit Fifty Shades trilogy. Is the Vampire Diaries star taking over Dornan’s part in the erotic thriller, or can fans expect to see Dornan back in action when Fifty Shades Darker hits theaters in February?

E! News reports that Dornan commented on his future with the franchise during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live last week. The actor admitted that he can tell the difference between fans of Fifty Shades and those of The Fall and teased that the sequels “are going to ruin the franchise.”

Dornan was obviously joking, but was the actor hinting at something else?

“Supposedly, I heard that Ian Somerhalder is replacing you in that,” Kimmel asked Dornan. “Do you know anything about that? Is that true?”

“No,” Dornan responded. “I don’t know.”

With the next film due to arrive in February, Dornan admitted that replacing him would be an incredible challenge for producers. After all, filming for both Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed took place at the same time and wrapped a few months back.

“That would be really hard for them to do, considering we shot both of the movies. That’s an expensive mistake, I’ll put it that way. But good luck to him – he’ll be great!”

Dornan is currently promoting the new season of the hit British crime series The Fall. While it doesn’t sound like Somerhalder is taking over anytime soon, Dornan revealed that his dad very well might.

“Dad is the worst person in the world at keeping secrets, but he managed to keep the biggest secret ever: He’s on The Fall,” Dornan said. “I didn’t have anything to do with it. I didn’t arrange it. He’s gotten to know Allan Cubitt — who created the show — over the years. It’s been four, five years of my life, this job. So, my dad’s gotten to know him socially and stuff.”

Dornan was surprised to see his dad make a cameo on the show and didn’t know about it until he was watching the season on a train. Apparently, his father liked acting so much that he’s going to expand his career to other projects.

“I get sent all the episodes—not for approval; they don’t really care what I have to say. To be polite, they send them before they’re aired,” Dornan shared. “I was watching the second episode on a train from where we live in the middle of nowhere into London, and my dad pops up out of nowhere and delivers this one line really kind well. It was kind of good. That was it.”

As far as his role in Fifty Shades Darker is concerned, Hollywood Life reports that Dornan has nothing to worry about. Indeed, producers have already released a lot of promo materials for the upcoming film, including photos from the set and a full trailer, all of which featured Dornan in the lead role.

Jamie Dornan’s part in the erotic franchise has vaulted his career in Hollywood. According to Enstarz, the actor just received a nomination for his role in the film Anthropoid. The movie is set in World War II and Dornan nabbed a nod for Best Supporting Actor at the British Independent Film Awards.

Of course, Dornan also received a nomination and won a Razzie in 2016 for his part in Fifty Shades of Grey. Given the new director and change of direction for the sequels, fans can only hope Dornan doesn’t suffer a similar fate next year.

Meanwhile, taking over Dornan’s role in E.L. James’ hit franchise isn’t the only thing on Somerhalder’s mind. According to Variety, Ian Somerhalder has strong opinions about the upcoming presidential elections in the U.S. and will not stay in the country if Donald Trump wins the election.

“That’s not me playing up American exceptionalism,” Somerhalder explained. “It has to do everything with our foreign policy and our understanding of the environment. Any person that potentially has the position of being President of the United States who thinks climate disruption is a hoax created by the Chinese doesn’t deserve to be in that seat. It’s just a simple fact.”

Trump has been vocal in the past about climate change and believes that global warming is a hoax. Considering Trump’s extreme views and political stances, Somerhalder vows to move if the billionaire takes office in 2017.

“I think about the America I could potentially be raising my children in, and I don’t know,” he said. “I don’t know if I would actually want to stay here. It’s extreme, but I love this country. I want nothing but the best for this country.”

Speaking of his family, People reports that the end of The Vampire Diaries will finally open the door for Somerhalder to start a family of his own with wife Nikki Reed.

“It’s been nearly a decade. It’s time to turn over new leaves and really put our energies into other stuff,” he stated.

Fifty Shades Darker is scheduled to open in theaters on February 11, 2017.

Tell us! Would you like to see Ian Somerhalder replace Jamie Dornan if it were possible? Let us know in the comments below.

[Featured Image by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images]