LONDON -- Sam Taylor-Johnson has walked away from Fifty Shades of Grey.
The director, who helped the first film in the trilogy gross over half a billion dollars at the box office worldwide, said she won't be involved in the next two films.
No replacement has been announced yet. However, Jamie Dornan is reported to be returning as Christian Grey and and Dakota Johnson as Anastasia Steele.
“Directing Fifty Shades Of Grey has been an intense and incredible journey for which I am hugely grateful," Taylor-Johnson said in a statement. "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.”
Today with Jamie. #jamiedornan A photo posted by Director FSOG (@samtaylorjohnson) on Mar 25, 2015 at 6:43pm PDT
Taylor-Johnson has spoken about the animosity between her and Fifty Shades author E.L. James during the making of the first film, referring to "creative fights" and "proper on-set barneys" when their visions clashed.
"It was difficult, I'm not going to lie," she said.