Social Network duo take on erotic novel

Los Angeles - The Fifty Shades of Grey  film adaptation will be produced by the team behind The Social Network .

Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti - who worked together on 2010's blockbuster about Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg - have been appointed to adapt the popular raunchy novels by EL James for the big screen after Universal bought the rights for $5m in March.

Universal Pictures and Focus Features released a joint statement, saying:

"At its core Fifty Shades of Grey  is a complex love story, requiring a delicate and sophisticated hand to bring it to the big screen.

"Mike and Dana's credits more than exemplify what we need in creative partners, and we're glad to have them as part of our team."

'I'm putting myself out there'

The explicit bestsellers follow college graduate Anastasia Steele's S&M relationship with manipulative billionaire Christian Grey.

American Psycho  author Bret Easton Ellis recently put himself forward to write the screenplay and suggested A Dangerous Method's  David Cronenberg could direct.

In a series of tweets which have since been deleted, he wrote: "I'm putting myself out there to write the movie adaptation of Fifty Shades Of Grey...

"This is not a joke. Christian Grey and Ana: potentially great cinematic characters."

Hollywood heartthrobs Ryan Gosling, Chris Pine and Ian Somerhalder are reportedly being considered for the main role, but no stars have yet been cast.

Scarlett Johansson and Kristen Stewart are tipped for the role of Anastasia.