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Noam Murro, the commercials director who scored a coup with "Ring 2," will not be directing the sequel to the Japanese horror pic at DreamWorks, after all.

In a statement, DreamWorks Pictures head Walter Parkes said: "This is a mutual parting based on two creative differences. Noam Murro is an extraordinarily gifted director and we intend without hesitation to try to work with him in the future."

According to DreamWorks, the release date for "Ring 2" remains Nov. 10. A new director is expected to be named as soon as this week.

Murro had replaced Gore Verbinski, who directed the first "Ring," which generated a surprising $129 million at the domestic B.O. and $120 million overseas in 2002.

Naomi Watts and David Dorfman are returning for the sequel, written by Ehren Kruger, who also penned the original.

Before landing "Ring 2," Murro was largely unknown in the feature film world. Trained in architecture, the Israeli-born director cut his teeth as a commercials helmer, directing award-winning spots for Nike, Saturn and Volkswagen through his Biscuit Filmworks shingle.