Film director Morgan Spurlock has revealed that 'X Factor' mogul Simon Cowell has taken a back seat in the members of One Direction's professional lives because they now have enough experience to make their own decisions.

Spurlock is directing the lads' forthcoming debut movie, 'This Is Us', and explained to the Sunday Telegraph that he has moved aside in order to let them pilot their own collective career:

"He's so not involved in the boys' lives any more. I'm sure he chimes in every now and then, but they vote on every decision that's made - they've become incredibly empowered when it comes to their career path, it's like 1Democracy."

He added that there's one scene in the film where heartthrob Zayn Malik buys his mother a house and her reaction is captured by the cameras, but promised that it doesn't exploit the group's wealth or power and instead reflects the importance of family:

"Are you kidding? That's one of the greatest things you could do. If I bought my mum a house she'd be ecstatic. To me, it shows that the boys are still fantastically normal, despite everything."

'This Is Us' will premiere in London on August 20 and is then due to hit UK cinemas from August 29.