Date: 27th March 2015

Fifty Shades of Grey director Sam Taylor-Johnson pulls out of sequels.


Sam Taylor-Johnson, the director of adult drama Fifty Shades of Grey, will not direct its planned two sequels.

The artist and film-maker said she was "hugely grateful" to have been chosen to adapt EL James's 2011 best-seller.

She then wished "nothing but success to whosoever takes on the exciting challenges of films two and three".

Fifty Shades, about a businessman who begins a sadomasochistic affair with a young student, has made almost $560m (£375m) at the worldwide box office.

EL James's trilogy of Fifty Shades books have reportedly sold more than 100 million copies worldwide and been translated into more than 50 languages.

Relations between Taylor-Johnson and the author were said to be strained during its production, prompting speculation the artist-turned-director would not return to continue or complete the film trilogy.

Source: Press Release