Director Barry Sonnenfeld has left Lemony Snicket's a Series of Unfortunate Events, a film adaptation of Daniel Handler's series of children's fantasy books, Variety reported. Paramount and Nickelodeon Films have partnered with DreamWorks on the film, with DreamWorks film principals Walter Parkes, Laurie MacDonald and Steven Spielberg taking the creative lead.

Sonnenfeld left after producer Scott Rudin walked off the project late last year in the wake of a budget battle, the trade paper reported. Jim Carrey is still on board as the film's star, subject to the hiring of a new director to his liking.

As for why Sonnenfeld left, the trade paper reported that the director doesn't get along with Parkes, who produced Sonnenfeld's Men in Black II. Sources told the trade paper that Sonnenfeld still expected to be the film's director, at least until his representatives were informed the studios would be replacing him. But Paramount vice chairman and chief operating officer Rob Friedman flatly denied that Sonnenfeld was axed, the trade paper reported.

Paramount hopes to have the project ready to go for a summer start date and a 2004 release.