Vant Sant pitches test sex scene for 50 Shades job

Gus Van Sant has reportedly filmed a test sex scene for the producers of the film adaptation of E.L. James' best-selling erotic novel '50 Shades of Grey' in order to clinch the director's job.

The helmsman of films including the Oscar-winning 'Milk' and 'Good Will Hunting' is said to be extremely keen to direct the film.

[Related story: Watson really isn't going to be in 50 Shades]

For the scene he has used the 'Magic Mike' star Alex Pettyfer to play the role of Christian Grey – along with a so-far unidentified actress - filming the scene where the book's protagonist Anastasia Steele loses her virginity to the older man.

According to The Wrap, who have inside sources on the production, Van Sant was not asked by Universal Pictures or Focus Features to make the scene, but has offered them one as an indication of how much he wants the job.

Van Sant has variously approached issues of complex sexuality over his career in films including 1991's 'My Own Private Idaho' and 'To Die For' with Nicole Kidman and Joaquin Phoenix in 1995.

The rights to the film were bought up by Universal last year, with Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti, producers of 'The Social Network', currently seeking a cast and crew.

So far there have been no announcements as to who might play the two leads, though the role of Anastasia has been linked to actresses including Emma Watson (who has refuted the claims), Mila Kunis and Elizabeth Olson.