'Fifty Shades of Grey' stars Jamie Dornan, Dakota Johnson get in character

Nov. 13 (UPI) -- As if to compensate for Wednesday's news that Fifty Shades of Grey's release date had been pushed back to 2015, stars Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson posed in character for an Entertainment Weekly cover and photo shoot.

Dornan, who recently replaced Sons of Anarchy star Charlie Hunnam in the lead, wears the suit and tie of seductive business magnate Christian Grey, while Johnson channels the demure Anastasia Steele. Johnson, 24, also shows off her new hair color -- she died it from blonde to brunette for the role.

The cover hints at 50 Shades' notoriously kinky subject matter, with Dornan's tie wrapped around his hand. Another photo in the series features Johnson in white Converses and a baby blue cable knit sweater, while Dornan, 31, smolders behind her.

“There was a slight fear,” Dornan said of the moment he heard he was hired. “But beyond anything else, I was really f***ing excited.”

You can check out the whole shoot over at Entertainment Weekly.