Fifty Shades of Grey director Sam Taylor-Johnson pulls out of follow-ups
She praises the "incredible journey" of making the movie
Fifty Shade of Grey director Sam Taylor-Johnson has announced she will not be directed the two upcoming sequels.
Confirming her exit from the raunchy movie series, Taylor-Johnson said: “Directing Fifty Shades of Grey has been an intense and incredible journey for which I am hugely grateful,” said Taylor-Johnson.
“I have Universal to thank for that. I forged close and lasting relationships with the cast, producers and crew and most especially, with Dakota and Jamie.
“While I will not be returning to direct the sequels, I wish nothing but success to whosoever takes on the exciting challenges of films two and three.”
The movie was based on the first book of E.L. James’ 100million selling trilogy, which has been translated into 50 languages across the globe.
Despite lukewarm reviews from critics, Fifty Shades of Grey was a huge commercial success at the global box office raking in £375million from a £26million budget.
It also propelled the movie’s two main actors Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson to stardom.
Speaking to Vanity Fair earlier this year, Taylor-Johnson made no secret of the fact that there were tensions between herself and E.L. James.
"We battled all the way through," she said. "(E.L. James would) say the same. There were tough times and revelatory times. There were sparring contests. It was definitely not an easy process."
She also told Hollywood Reporter: “It’s difficult. When you have an author and an auteur, it’s a difficult and challenging relationship. I’m not saying that at times it wasn’t helpful, but there were times when it was really, really frustrating.”
The next movie, Fifty Shades Darker, is tentatively set for release in 2016.