Sam Taylor-Johnson opened up about leaving Fifty Shades of Grey

And why she chose not to return to direct the sequel…

Fifty Shades of Grey starring Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson hit the cinemas in 2015, raking in a whopping £448 million at the Box Office. You’d think therefore that the entire cast and crew would be keen to reunite for the second and third instalments – sure to be Box Office hits.

However, the original film’s director, Sam Taylor-Johnson, chose not to return to the franchise, announcing the news back in 2015.

‘While I will not be returning to direct the sequels, I wish nothing but success to whoever takes on the exciting challenges of films two and three,’ she stated. ‘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.’

Just recently the 50-year-old director opened up about why she chose to leave the franchise, and it looks like a lot of the reason is down to her turbulent relationship with Fifty Shades author, EL James.

‘I like everyone, and I get really confused when they don’t like me,’ Sam Taylor-Johnson explained in a recent interview with The Sunday Times Style Magazine. ‘I don’t understand when I can’t navigate a person, when there’s no synergy.’

‘I'm not going to ever watch [the sequels]’, she continued. ‘I have literally zero interest. I can never say I regret it because that would just finish me off. But with the benefit of hindsight, would I go through it again? Of course I wouldn't. I'd be mad.’