‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ Director Sam Taylor-Johnson Leaves Franchise

This week is shaping up to be a week of big splits. First Zayn leaves One Direction, now news has come out that Fifty Shades of Grey director Sam Taylor-Johnson has bid farewell to the franchise.

There were signs of trouble brewing previously, as reports of Sam and the series’ author E.L. James not seeing eye to eye during production, but now

Deadline has broken the news that the director has cut ties with the film series.

In a statement released to the site, Johnson’s reps 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. 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.”

There are no leads on replacements at the time.

Let us know what you think of Taylor-Johnson stepping down from the series in the comments below.

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