'Fifty Shades of Grey' Director Sam Taylor-Johnson Not Returning for Sequel
See what Sam Taylor-Johnson said about stars Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson.
— -- "Fifty Shades of Grey" director Sam Taylor-Johnson will not return for the sequel.
Taylor-Johnson made the announcement via a statement released to Deadline on Wednesday.
"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," she said. "I forged close and lasting relationships with the cast, producers and crew and most especially, with Dakota [Johnson] and Jamie [Dornan]."
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 dollars at the domestic box office and $558 million worldwide since its release in February.
