Brit director Michael Radford has had his name removed from La Mula, a Spanish film he co-wrote and directed. Prior to the omission, the director left the project just days before filming completed.

French director Sebastián Grousset was called in to finish the project, allegedly wearing a balaclava to protect his identity.

Released last month in Spain and based on the novel by Juan Eslava Galan, the film centres on a soldier protecting a mule during the Spanish Civil War.

Friction was reported between Radford and producers throughout the film”s production, with Radford suspending filming over apparent unsigned production agreements with Gheko Films.

Made with British and Irish funding, the Spanish language film was as a co-production between Radford, Gheko Films (Spain), Integral Films (Germany) and Subotica Entertainment (Ireland). Radford, who won an Oscar for 1994”s Il Postino (The Postman), also co-wrote the film.

Radford is currently working on Larry and Viv, about two of the most famous actors of their times: Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh. Producer Warren Derosa of Elstree Studio Productions told The Knowledge that he expects filming to get underway in Q4 of 2013.

The film centres on what Olivier went through for his wartime efforts, and draws on private letters he wrote to his son Tarquin, who is executive producing the project. Radford will direct from his own screenplay. Susan Douglas co-produces.