“Fifty Shades of Grey” – Focus Features(NEW YORK) — Fifty Shades of Grey director Sam Taylor-Johnson will not return for the sequel. She made the announcement via a statement released to Deadline on Wednesday.
She said, “Directing Fifty Shades of Grey has been an intense and incredible journey for which I am hugely grateful. I have Universal to thank for that.”
Referring to her Fifty Shades stars, Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan, she continued, “I forged close and lasting relationships with the cast, producers and crew and most especially, with Dakota and Jamie.”
Taylor-Johnson concluded her statement by wishing success to “whosoever takes on the exciting challenges of films two and three.”
It’s been reported in the past that Taylor-Johnson and Fifty Shades author E.L. James had creative differences, but it’s unclear how much that played a role in her decision.
Johnson and Dornan are under contract for the sequels, Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed.
Fifty Shades of Grey has made $164 million at the domestic box office and $558 million worldwide since its release in February.
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