The Director of Fifty Shades of Grey Will Not Return for the Sequel

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Sam Taylor-Johnson, Jamie Dornan, Dakota Johnson and E.L. James pose for photographers upon arrival at the UK premiere of the film Fifty Shades of Grey in London, Feb. 12, 2015
Sam Taylor-Johnson, Jamie Dornan, Dakota Johnson and E.L. James pose for photographers upon arrival at the UK premiere of the film Fifty Shades of Grey in London, Feb. 12, 2015Joel Ryan—Invision/AP
By Rishi Iyengar

The director of this year’s biggest Hollywood release Fifty Shades of Grey announced on Wednesday that she will not be directing the film’s sequels. The move is thought to be because of reported creative differences with E.L. James, the author of the erotic novel on which the movie is based.

“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,” director Sam Taylor-Johnson said in a statement, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The movie, starring Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan, has earned a total of $558.6 million worldwide so far.

THR reports that screenwriter Kelly Marcel will also probably not be involved in the sequel, and the film’s producers will most likely assemble a new creative team for the next installment of the trilogy.

[THR]

Read next: Unrated Fifty Shades of Grey DVD Will Include an Alternate Ending

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Write to Rishi Iyengar at rishi.iyengar@timeasia.com