( CNN ) The `` Fifty Shades '' series will have to handcuff a new director . Sam Taylor-Johnson , who directed `` Fifty Shades of Grey , '' told Deadline.com that she wo n't be back for the sequel , `` Fifty Shades Darker . '' `` Directing 'Fifty Shades Of Grey ' has been an intense and incredible journey for which I am hugely grateful , '' she said in a statement to the site . `` 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 . '' 'Fifty Shades of Grey ' : What fans hoped for ? The first film in the best-selling book series has been hugely successful , pulling in more than $ 550 million worldwide since it premiered in mid-February , but there have been rumbles that creative clashes were in the offing for the sequel . Author E L James has a great deal of control in how her books are presented on screen , and she made it clear that she wanted to write the screenplay for the second film , Variety reported last month . Kelly Marcel wrote the screenplay for `` Fifty Shades of Grey . '' The story behind Mr. Grey 's suits . The film stars Jamie Dornan as billionaire Christian Grey -- a man of certain sexual proclivities -- and Dakota Johnson as his romantic partner , Anastasia Steele .
Sam Taylor-Johnson bows out of the `` Fifty Shades '' sequel . Author E L James wanted more control over the first pic . The second film has made $ 550 million worldwide .