'Slumdog: the Musical' has no happy ending for Danny Boyle

Don't expect a Slumdog Millionaire sequel any time soon. The team behind the Oscar-winning film have split over plans to turn it into a stage musical, which will now go ahead without the director, Danny Boyle.

The story of a young boy's escape from India's slums appeared ripe for a Bollywood-themed musical since the 2008 film's success. But the creative team, including Boyle, the screenwriter Simon Beaufoy and the composer A R Rahman, said they would only go ahead if they could all work on the adaptation.

Frustrated with delays to the project, Paul Smith, executive producer on the original film, who owns the screen rights, is pressing ahead without Boyle after talks failed to overcome "creative differences".

Julian Fellowes, the Downton Abbey creator, has now been lined up to write the book for the musical. Matthew Warchus, director of the musical Matilda, is discussing a deal to take over directorial duties.