How many times do we gotta tell ya Naomi - upgrade to DVD!

There's trouble on the production of DreamWorks' The Ring 2.

Today's edition of The Hollywood Reporter scoops that newbie director Noam Murro has exited the project after almost five months of pre-production. The trade says that the decision to split was mutual and was, of course, related to "creative differences."

"This is a mutual parting based on two creative differences," DreamWorks co-head Walter Parkes told THR. Murro, an award-winning commercial director, was set to make his feature directing debut with the project.

As the trade says, there's no telling how this will affect the film's start date or the involvement of star Naomi Watts. The sequel to the studio's hit thriller The Ring had been tentatively slated for a November release, but that will probably change unless a new helmer steps in quickly.

Watts has been set to reprise her role as investigative reporter Rachel Keller in the sequel. David Dorfman is also expected to return as Rachel's son, Aidan.

Ehren Kruger, who scripted the first film, is writing the sequel, which is being produced by Walter F. Parkes and Laurie MacDonald..

The original 2002 sleeper hit, about a deadly videotape, grossing roughly $130 million domestically.

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