It seems the affair will be affecting the SWATH sequel after all.

With the highly publicized relationship issues surfacing between Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson thanks to director Rupert Sanders, the issue has not only affected their personal lives but also the status of certain upcoming features. And while Summit Entertainment has assured that promotion for The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 will continue as planned, it’s exactly where a potential sequel to Snow White and the Huntsman lies that is remaining perhaps the most uncertain. Now, it seems that a second SWATH may need a new director behind the camera as the affair will affect Sanders’ involvement.

Digital Spy reports that with Sanders and Stewart’s affair becoming public, the director may have to give up the sequel in order to properly fix things at home with wife Liberty Ross. A source claims the married duo “are trying to work things out after he was caught having an affair, and [Sanders giving upSWATH 2] is one of the sticking points”.

“She just doesn’t want him to ever work with Kristen again,” the source continues. “Rupert is obviously disappointed because Snow White and the Huntsman was his directorial debut, and he had hoped on building on that. But he knows his actions were inexcusable, and he’s going to have to bite the bullet and listen to his wife on this one.”

Originally, Universal had wanted to sign Sanders directly after the opening of the original film in order for the project to be his next for a possible 2014 release. Now with Sanders likely out, it’s unclear just where the studio will go from here. A script is already in the works David Koepp, and the principal actors are already signed for the sequel. The first film improved upon its $170 million with a worldwide gross of $381 million and certainly seems poised to become an all-new franchise. From here, it’s likely the studio will want to field potential replacements as soon as possible while trying to fight off the negative press resulting from the tabloids.

It’s unconfirmed just what will happen coming up, and Universal may make some big moves once talk from the relationship reveal dies down. With all of the buzz surrounding the affair, an exit of some sorts always seemed like a likely development. As of right now, however, nothing is set in stone by either the studio or Sanders himself as he tries to piece his personal life back together.

What do you think? Will Sanders undoubtedly leave the potential sequel or could he somehow return despite the scandal?