Despite parting ways with their first choice for director, Universal is moving ahead with plans for their Chris Hemsworth sequel The Huntsman.

Deadline has word that Frank Darabont has exited the picture he was tapped to helm last year citing "creative differences." The studio is far from deterred by the news as The Wrap reports that actress Emily Blunt is in talks to play the villainous Snow Queen in the picture, which is still eyeing an April 2016 release.

A sequel to 2012's high performing Snow White & The Huntsman, the movie will reunite Hemsworth's title character and Charlize Theron's wicked queen Ravenna. Blunt's Snow Queen character would be the sister to Ravenna, and the villain of the piece would seek revenge on the Huntsman as he searches for the magic mirror.

While this is only the most recent creative break with a studio for the Walking Dead developer, Darabont draft of the Huntsman screenplay remains in play for the time being. The movie is being produced by Joe Roth and executive produced by Palak Patel. No involvment is expected from original Snow White star Kristen Stewart or director Rupert Sanders.