Emilia Clarke, who made her debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Secret Invasion, was also offered the role of Anastasia Steele from Fifty Shades of Grey, which later on was done by Dakota Johnson.

Source: https://www.koimoi.com/hollywood-news/when-emilia-clarke-rejected-fifty-shades-of-grey-for-having-too-much-of-ndity-making-place-for-dakota-johnson-said-the-entire-thing-is-about-sx/

From Taxi Driver's Travis and Willy Wonka to Christian from 50 Shades of Grey, there are just some protagonists that rub the audience the wrong way.

Source: https://screenrant.com/movie-heroes-unlikeable/

Now considered a book series that was ahead of its time — and a precursor to "Fifty Shades of Grey" — Anne Rice's The Sleeping Beauty Trilogy is tinged with BDSM and kink, set in a medieval fantasy world.

Source: https://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/sexiest-romance-novels-47734346