'It's probably for the best': Aaron Taylor-Johnson says it was a good decision for director wife Sam to leave Fifty Shades Darker

He was instrumental in Sam Taylor-Johnson's decision to direct Fifty Shades Of Grey.

But now Aaron Taylor-Johnson has said it was 'for the best' for his wife to not return to directing the sequel Fifty Shades Darker.

The Avengers: Age Of Ultron star told The Guardian: 'Um … decisions just naturally happen. It isn't about forcing anything. Sam certainly isn't one to shy away from a challenge. But, you know, it's probably for the best.'

The right move: Aaron Taylor-Johnson says it was 'for the best' for his wife Sam to leave the Fifty Shades franchise as director

The right move: Aaron Taylor-Johnson says it was 'for the best' for his wife Sam to leave the Fifty Shades franchise as director

Sam told the paper earlier this year, 'for Fifty Shades I went in all guns blazing. I hadn’t thought through what, if I got the job… what I’d do. And at eight the next morning, they said, "You’ve got it, and we’re announcing at midday."

'I said, "Can I think about it?" and they said no. So I sat down with Aaron and he said, "Just do it." It was like stepping on to a bullet train I’d only just got off.'

The first Fifty Shades Darker film still was released on Friday, showing Jamie Dornan as Christian Grey in a black mask looking into a mirror.

Fifty Shades Darker will hit cinemas on February 10, 2017, while the trilogy will complete on February 9, 2018 with Fifty Shades Freed. 

Support: Sam had said Aaron was behind her decision to direct Fifty Shades Of Grey

Support: Sam had said Aaron was behind her decision to direct Fifty Shades Of Grey

There were reports of friction between Sam and Fifty Shades writer E. L. James throughout filming as they clashed over creative control. 

The first instalment was Taylor-Johnson's first film in four years since Nowhere Boy, the indie flick which brought her and Aaron together.

They now live in LA with their two daughters, aged four and three, and another two, aged 16 and eight, from her previous marriage to the art dealer Jay Jopling.

Aaron admits that because of their financial security he is able to be selective with which projects to embark on so he doesn't lose time with his children. 

New: The first Fifty Shades Darker film still was released on Friday, showing Jamie Dornan as Christian Grey in a black mask looking into a mirror

New: The first Fifty Shades Darker film still was released on Friday, showing Jamie Dornan as Christian Grey in a black mask looking into a mirror

Family first: Aaron admits that because of their financial security he is able to be selective with which projects to embark on so he doesn't lose time with his children

Family first: Aaron admits that because of their financial security he is able to be selective with which projects to embark on so he doesn't lose time with his children

'I know when I’ve missed too many school runs,' the actor says, 'We’re lucky that we have the financial luxury not to have to be working all the time.'

For his role as Pietro Maximoff (AKA Quicksilver) in the Avengers sequel, Aaron says 'he got paid very nicely'.

'The money didn’t have a major effect on me,' he explains, 'it was really down to spending time speaking to Joss [Whedon, the writer-director] and talking it over. It’s much more important to me to consider what I could do in the film and who I’m working with.'

Avengers: Age Of Ultron is out in UK cinemas now 

New film: See Aaron in Avengers: Age Of Ultron in UK cinemas now

New film: See Aaron in Avengers: Age Of Ultron in UK cinemas now

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