Sam Taylor-Johnson left the Fifty Shades of Grey franchise after the release of the 2015 film.

Sam Taylor-Johnson revealed why she left the Fifty Shades of Grey franchise.

She admitted having a strained relationship with author E.L. James.

Mark Wahlberg lost a bid to become a producer for Fifty Shades of Grey.

Dakota Johnson is widely recognized for her role as Anastasia Steele in Sam Taylor-Johnson’s Fifty Shades of Grey. While the actress has no regrets about starring and bearing it all in the film, the director tremendously laments her involvement in the franchise.

Dakota Johnson

On the other hand, Mark Wahlberg has taken an interest in serving as a producer for the Fifty Shades films. However, he lost a bid and was furious at his team for not getting the rights to the movies.

Sam Taylor-Johnson Had A Difficult Time On The Set Of Fifty Shades Of Grey

One of Sam Taylor-Johnson’s most successful works is Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan’s Fifty Shades of Grey. The 2015 erotic film grossed over $571 million despite critics’ harsh reviews. With only a $40 million production budget, fans can say it was a raging victory.

After the release of the movie, Taylor-Johnson admitted she did not have a great time working on the project. Her strained relationship with author E.L. James was a huge part of her dilemma. She told the Sunday Times:

“I can never say I regret it because that would just finish me off. With the benefit of hindsight would I go through it again? Of course, I wouldn’t. I’d be mad.”

Sam Taylor-Johnson

She recalled dealing with people who made her feel uncomfortable and unwelcome on the set, particularly the writer, who also served as a producer. She continued:

“I’d be mad [to do it again]. It was a struggle, and there were lots of onset tête-à-têtes, with me trying to bat it into the [right] place. I like everyone — and I get really confused when they don’t like me. I was so confused by E.L. James. I don’t understand when I can’t navigate a person, when there’s no synergy.”

In her interview with The Hollywood Reporter, she explained that creative differences also played a major part in her rift with E.L. James. The director further added:

“Her vision versus mine, and they were polar opposites. Every scene was fought over. It was tough. It was like wading uphill through sticky tar. Her thing was, ‘This is what the fans expect.’ I’d be like, ‘Well, let’s try and hit those marks but create a new universe at the same time.’”

James Foley replaced Taylor-Johnson as the director in the 2017 and 2018 sequels.

Mark Wahlberg Wanted A Part In Dakota Johnson’s Fifty Shades Of Grey

Mark Wahlberg

Meanwhile, Mark Wahlberg wanted to take part in the Fifty Shades franchise as a producer because he projected and believed in its potential.

Indeed, the Dakota Johnson-led movies emerged as box-office hits despite the rating. This only made the Transformers actor feel bad that he lost the bidding. Wahlberg said via The Hollywood Reporter’s Producers Roundtable:

“I almost fired my agent Ari [Emanuel] over [Fifty Shades]—not because I wanted to play the part. We were aware of the book from very early on, and we were close to securing the rights, and then we get into this bidding war. We were so close to having [it]. That was one of the few times I was going to fire Ari.”

The actor almost fired his whole team after the opportunity slipped away from his fingers. The entire Fifty Shades franchise brought in $1.3 billion.