If there’s been one project that fans have been anxious to finally get a move on, it’s been the adaptation of 2012′s breakout bestseller Fifty Shades of Grey. As Universal Pictures and Focus Features secured the rights to the hit trilogy five months ago, the quest to bring the first novel of the trilogy to the big screen has been a slow burn for the time being. With author E.L. James retaining some control over her literary vision, so far all the film has managed to acquire is a set of producers with Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti.

A screenwriter has been a long and arduous process filled with rumors thus far, along with a number of casting talk that has proven to be just some wishful thinking from a number of different fans. Now, it seems perhaps one fandom may reign supreme after all as one of the stars of the hit supernatural drama The Vampire Diaries has reportedly revealed he may soon be in early talks for the male lead.

A site reporting out of a Vampire Diaries convention in New Jersey has said that multiple attendees have revealed on Twitter The Vampire Diaries star Ian Somerhalder had told a packed panel at the con that he will be making a trip to Los Angeles in order to talk to the production team behind the upcoming adaptation of Fifty Shades of Grey. One fan tweeted, “Ian was asked what the status was about him playing Christian. He’s meeting with the 50 Shades ppl in LA in 2 weeks!”

Now, this wouldn’t be the first time that some big names have been tossed around for the role of titular character Christian Grey. Matt Bomer, Ryan Gosling and countless others have long been rumored to at least be considered for the part, though casting has seemed a long time off given the early development process so far for the feature. And maybe it’s because I follow way too many Vampire Diaries fans on Twitter, but Somerhalder has long been thought to be a perfect candidate for Grey as well.

However, this doesn’t mean that Somerhalder may be offered the part just yet. As said, the film currently has no writer and is fielding just who could hold a possible franchise should the first movie prove to be popular enough. But with the roles of Christian Grey and Ana Steele obviously known as the tip of the iceberg, it’s not out of reach that Universal could be talking to possible actors and actresses for a production sometime next year.

We’ll update you with the latest information as it develops.