Angelina Jolie is among the names being tipped to replace Sam Taylor-Johnson as director on the next Fifty Shades Of Grey movie.

The British director, who has spoken of her arguments with author EL James about bringing the raunchy novels to the big screen, has announced she will not be making the next two movies.

Sam Taylor-Johnson
Sam Taylor-Johnson has left the project (Jon Furniss/Invision)

Speculation has already begun as to who will take the helm of the sequels to the box office smash hit, starring Jamie Dornan as Christian Grey and Dakota Johnson as his lover Anastasia Steele, based on the series of erotic novels.

Twilight’s Catherine Hardwicke is the favourite to take on directing duties, according to bookmakers William Hill, with odds of 2/1.

Catherine Hardwicke directed the first Twilight movie (Dan Steinberg/Invision)
Catherine Hardwicke directed the first Twilight movie (Dan Steinberg/Invision)

Lost In Translation’s Sofia Coppola is second favourite at 3/1, followed by controversial filmmaker Lars von Trier and Sex And The City’s Michael Patrick King, both with odds of 4/1.

Angelina, who was said to be in talks to direct the first film in 2012, before Sam landed the job, is set at 5/1, joint with Steven Shainberg, who directed the critically acclaimed 2002 S&M film Secretary, starring James Spader and Maggie Gyllenhaal.

Other names linked to the job include Twilight: Breaking Dawn’s Bill Condon, David Lynch, David Cronenberg, Quentin Tarantino and even Sam Mendes.