BY Danica Bellini,Mstarz reporter 

James Franco and Emilia Clarke in “Fifty Shades?”

NOTE: Any “Fifty Shades of Grey” views and ideas expressed in this article belong to the writer – please contribute Mstars for any future reference.

Rumors have it that “Spring Breakers” heartthrob James Franco may be dating “Game of Thrones” beauty Emilia Clarke – what a coincidence, both stars are top fan-favorites to snag the kinky roles of Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele in E.L. James’ erotic film adaptation of “Fifty Shades of Grey!” Franco and Clarke aren’t afraid to get down-and-dirty in front of the cameras – and if the duo’s able to provide an authentic onscreen chemistry, do “Fifty Shades” fans think they’d make the perfect Mr. Grey and Miss Steele lovers? Read on for more steamy details.

Okay, so 34-year-old Franco hasn’t garnered too much Christian Grey buzz (especially not compared to Hollywood hotties Ian Somerhalder, Matt Bomer, Henry Cavill, etc.), but that doesn’t mean he’s necessarily out of the Mr. Grey running. He definitely has the look AND experience (not to mention the charming, seductive attitude) to snag the kinky lead role in “Fifty Shades.” As Mstars originally reported:

“Lovelace,” “Kink,” “Interior. Leather Bar,” and “Spring Breakers” – four recently-released films that all revolve around sex, BDSM, and pornography … and all which star (either on or off the screen) 34-year-old Hollywood heartthrob James Franco. Does that make the California native a worthy contender to snag the coveted role of Christian Grey in the film adaptation of E.L. James’ hit erotic trilogy “Fifty Shades of Grey?” Franco recently premiered three rather raunchy, controversial movies/documentaries at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, which has helped to spark some “Fifty Shades” buzz. But is the role of the handsome and kinky Christian Grey actually too “innocent and fictional” for Franco’s taste?

Check out the four upcoming films where Franco delves into the world of porn, sex, and bondage:

- Amanda Seyfried stars as 70s’ porn sensation Linda Boreman in the biographical film, “Lovelace.” The movie chronicles Boreman’s life as an infamous porn star until she eventually breaks free from her abusive husband and discloses the truth about the sex industry in order to prevent other women from getting similarly exploited. Franco stars as Playboy founder Hugh Hefner.

- ‘Kink,’ a documentary produced by Franco that follows the evolution of the world’s second largest producer of BDSM pornography, kink.com. The film, directed by cinematographer Christina Voros, delves into the inner workings of the BDSM production company and attempts to demystify the BDSM-pornographic lifestyle. Check out the documentary trailer:

- Franco co-directed “Interior. Leather Bar” with Travis Mathews, a film that focuses on gay cruising. According to IMBd, the film “re-imagines the lost 40 minutes from [William Friedkin's 1980] ‘Cruising’ as a starting point to a broader exploration of sexual and creative freedom.” “Cruising” stars Al Pacino as a police detective who goes undercover in the sleazy, underground gay subculture of New York City to catch a serial killer who is murdering numerous gay men with S&M tactics. “Interior Leather bar” includes many graphic scenes of gay sex and fallacio.

These three films debuted at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival back in January with mixed reactions.

- “Spring Breakers” follows the trials of four young, beautiful college girls who rob a fast food joint to pay for their spring break vacation. While partying in Flordia they get busted at a party with drugs and are thrown in jail. A drug and arms dealer (Franco) bails them out and requires them to do some of his dirty work for payback. At one point in the film Franco’s character has a threesome with Ashley Benson and Vanessa Hudgens. The movie was released back in March.

Franco definitely has some hands-on experience when it comes to the (darker) side of “unforbidden” sex and BDSM. Not to mention that his handsome features and rather quirky yet charming persona makes him an ideal Christian Grey candidate. Even so, it turns out that after dealing with the real-life, kinkier side of the sex industry, “Fifty Shades” might be a little too “cookie cutter” clean for Franco’s taste. The Golden Globe winner once told MTV News:

“[Kink] is for all the ’50 Shades of Grey’ fans. This is what you’re reading about. This is the real thing. This is what it looks like. This isn’t the dime store version of bondage. This is what bondage is like… If you think about the origins of each of these [Sundance] films, it is a coincidence… But if you think about it as there’s something in the air – and I do believe there are waves of things that interest filmmakers and people in television – then maybe it’s not such a coincidence.”

Did Franco just consider “Fifty Shades of Grey” the “dime store version” of bondage? What do fans think of that… and would “Fifty Shades” enthusiasts still like to see Franco up on the big screen as Christian Grey?

Meanwhile, 26-year-old Clarke remains without-a-doubt a top Ana Steele contender. AsMstars previously noted:

Clarke definitely has the innocent, girl-next-door (not to mention naturally stunning) look, and her portrayal of Daenerys Targaryen on the hit HBO medieval-fantasy series “Games of Thrones” provides her with a mysterious, powerful, and mesmerizing vibe.

Clarke once admitted that shooting nude scenes isn’t really her “cup of tea,” which means she might not feel comfortable taking part in such a sexual film. Still, she continues to bare-it-all onscreen for “Game of Thrones” (and on Broadway for “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”), so apparently nudity isn’t too big of a concern.

Wonder if novelist E.L. James digs the idea. Considering Clarke isn’t such a big-name in Hollywood, meaning that she isn’t typecaste with a specific genre role, it could be a huge possibility.

Now, gossip guru Perez Hilton claims that Franco’s “flirting with fire” by romantically pursuing the stunning starlet. Eyewitnesses insist that the pair were spotted “looking quite friendly” during NYC’s Frieze art fair on Randalls Island this past weekend. Apparently the (recently single) co-stars met on the set of the upcoming movie “The Garden of Last Days.” Is the sexy duo actually dating? And if so, does this increase their Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele likability (and kink-ability)?