Joaquin Phoenix dropped out of the gay romance film by Todd Haynes, right before it was supposed to start filming in Mexico.
Phoenix had worked on the screenplay for the detective love story with Haynes and Jon Raymond. A source told Variety that he got ‘cold feet’ and decided to leave the film at the last minute. Sets had already been built in Guadalajara before his departure.
Representatives for Haynes and Phoenix didn’t respond to Variety’s request for comment. The film relied on Phoenix’s involvement and had already sold to international distributors before filming.
With him leaving, the project is at risk, as his role can’t be recast. The crew is now out of work, and those who invested still need to be paid. Losses could reach over a million dollars.
‘Top Gun: Maverick’ actor Danny Ramirez joined the cast in July as Phoenix’s love interest. In 2023, Haynes mentioned the project in a Variety interview, “[It’s a] love story between two men set in the ’30s that has explicit sexual content.”
The film was going to be rated NC-17 and have a challenging relationship. Some crew members think Joaquin left because of the graphic sex scenes, but others find that confusing since Phoenix was the one who suggested the project to Haynes.
Haynes told Variety in September 2023 that Phoenix had some ideas, and he turned them into a full narrative with Raymond’s help. The director noted, “Basically it was just this wonderful, organic way to create the script. And Joaquin was pushing it further into more dangerous territory, sexually.”
Haynes is now working on adapting Hernan Diaz’s Pulitzer-winning novel ‘Trust’ for HBO. He’ll reunite with Kate Winslet, who starred in his 2011 miniseries ‘Mildred Pierce.’
Phoenix, last seen in Ridley Scott’s ‘Napoleon,’ recently finished filming ‘Eddington’ with director Ari Aster and Emma Stone. His ‘Joker’ sequel is set to premiere at next month’s Venice Film Festival.
