Sam Taylor-Johnson reportedly wants to pull out of the ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ sequels after several clashes with author E.L. James.
The 47-year-old filmmaker recently admitted she had "signed on" for the second and third movies in the erotic film franchise, but it is now being reported she is no longer keen to helm the follow-up projects because she blames the writer – whose real name is Erika Mitchell – for the film’s failings, and vice-versa.
A senior film insider told The Sun newspaper: "Sam won’t be back for the ‘Fifty Shades’ sequels. She wants out and Universal knows that’s the right decision.
"Her relationship with Erika has become absolutely toxic – they despise each other and blame each other for the problems with the film."
Sam and E.L. – who signed a £3 million deal with Universal and Focus Films giving them the rights to her trio of books, which also gave her creative control of the movies – are said to have clashed numerous times about sex scenes as the author wanted to make the movie racier.
The source added: "All the biggest arguments were about the sex scenes in the film.
"Erika wanted the movie to be loyal to the book and much more explicit.
"But Sam pushed back because she wanted the movie to be more than just a collection of S&M scenes."
Sam has admitted she and E.L would "often clash" while making the film and she recently revealed she was banned from using a jellyfish in a sex scene, while the author also admitted the pair "butted heads".
Despite E.L.’s bust-ups with Sam, the two main stars of the movie, Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson – who play Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele – were said to have been happy with the filmmaker.
The insider added: "Jamie and Dakota are forced to come back, regardless of who the director is.
"They signed watertight contracts that tie them in to two more movies no matter what.
"But they were very close to Sam and will not be happy she’s not returning.
"They bought into her vision, rather than Erica’s original from the books."
Last night, a spokeswoman for ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ said: "Universal has not yet announced anything pertaining to sequels."
Sam Taylor-Johnson wants out of Fifty Shades sequels
