Sam Taylor-Johnson officially quits Fifty Shades of Grey Franchise

Universal studios officially announced Sam Taylor-Johnson has quit the Fifty Shades franchise after the screenwriter Kelly Marcel also quit recently.

Sam Taylor-Johnson will not be returning as the director for ‘Fifty Shades Darker’ the sequel to the hugely successful ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’. The news of the director’s exit comes after it was reported by Variety that the screenwriter Kelly Marcel will not be returning for the sequel as well. Rumors of both the director and the screenwriter quitting the franchise had been out and about for a while, but the developments have now been officiated. 

“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. 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,” Sam Taylor-Johnson told Deadline.

According to E! News sources the reason both the director and the screenwriter has quit the successful franchise is the attitude of the writer E. L. James, who wrote the fifty books series. James was granted a lot of artistic liberties in her contract and it was reported she constantly had clashes with the director Sam Taylor-Johnson during the process of filming.

James apparently has strong views about the way the movies should portray the books and Johnson was up to her neck by the fights with James. Therefore Johnson has decided to leave the franchise and will not be returning for the next installment ‘Fifty Shades Darker’.

‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ was released on the 14th of February earlier this year and has gone on to become a worldwide phenomenon, having grossed $558 million internationally and $164 million domestically in the US. Universal studios have decided to begin the production of the next installment in the start of 2017 and will have to look for both a new director and a screenwriter.

The studio has slated to start the production of the next installment by the start of 2016 and will be looking for both a new director and a screenwriter in the meanwhile. Some sources claim E. L. James herself will be writing the next screenplay but the claim is not official and the studio will probably hold a meeting before a decision can be reached.

After new came out of Sam Taylor-Johnson’s departure from the Fifty franchise, director gave a stamen to the press praising the film series. Johnson said directing the film had been an amazing opportunity for which she is immensely grateful to the Universal studio and throughout the process she has grown close to many people on the set, especially Dakota and Jamie. Finally Johnson related she wishes whoever takes the reigns of directing all best and /4/they have success in the next installment as well.