The race is on! Or has it ended?

Nobody knows who will be the key role of Christian Grey in upcoming movie "Fifty Shades of Grey," but recent sources say that "Drive" star Ryan Gosling is in first place.

Gosling, who was voted 2011 sexiest man on the planet, is being tipped to play the S&M billionaire who persuades and dominates innocent student Anastasia Steel, according to Entertainment Wise.

"The role of the sadomasochistic billionaire seems to be man-of-the-moment Ryan Gosling's to turn down. But the 'Drive' star may take some persuading," The Sun newspaper claimed.

"Vampires Diaries" star Ian Somerhalder has been the front runner in taking the role as Christian, but now that is being compromised.

In a poll conducted by Entertainment Wise in June, Somerhalder won the poll by picking up 27%, and new Superman Henry Cavill was 15%. Gosling only got 13%, but now that has changed.  

Last month, Somerhalder even held a sort of campaign on his Twitter, making it clear that he's more than qualified to take the role, according to The Hollywood Gossip.

So what qualities should the perfect Christian Grey have? MTV News spoke to fans who have strong opinions about the part.

"Christian definitely needs to be clean-cut, but extremely sexy when disheveled," Alison Genet of Twifans.com told MTV News. "I wouldn't choose a man that is overly chiseled. No juicehead gorillas need apply. Hair that can be neatly brushed, but when playing, it's loose and wild like Johnny Depp hair. Not super short."

"There's the side that first fell in love with the characters as part of 'Twilight' fan fiction and can only see Robert Pattinson as Christian and/or Kristen Stewart as Ana," Lisa Parker from FiftyShadesFilm.com explained to MTV News. "Would we be disappointed if he/she/they were cast? Absolutely not."

"I think Ian seems like a good fit visually, I haven't watched 'Vampire Diaries,' but what I hear about his acting skills there, I'm hearing good things," Chrissy Maier of Laters, Baby! told MTV.

Genet of Twifans.com said that Ryan Gosling would be a great choice for Christian Grey, saying that Gosling's undeniable charm could make him the perfect Christian Grey: "Ryan Gosling, Ryan Gosling, and Ryan Gosling. Imagining him in jeans hung low on the hip," according to MTV.

Let's see who will win this steamy race as "Fifty Shades of Grey" continues to dominates the Internet.