Topline
Production on director Todd Haynes’ upcoming gay romantic drama film will reportedly not move forward after star Joaquin Phoenix abruptly departed the project less than a week before shooting, sparking “peril” as losses could exceed seven figures and crew members still need to be paid, Variety reported.
Joaquin Phoenix reportedly dropped out of the film days before shooting. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / … [+]
Key Facts
IndieWire first reported Friday, citing unnamed sources, that Phoenix had dropped out of the project just five days before filming was set to start in Guadalajara, Mexico, and is not expected to return.
Though the exact circumstances of his departure are unknown, a source Variety said is close to production said Phoenix got “cold feet,” while Deadline reported Phoenix had “stormed off” the set two weeks ago.
Deadline reported the film is “dead, and not paused,” because there are no plans to recast Phoenix’s role.
Phoenix’s abrupt exit could lead to losses exceeding seven figures, Variety reported, as crew members who had already built sets in Mexico, as well as stakeholders in the film, need to be paid.
Forbes has reached out to representatives for Phoenix and M2K Films for comment.
What Film Did Phoenix Drop Out Of?
The film did not yet have a title, but it was reportedly set to be a romantic gay drama that centered on two men in the 1930s. The two men, one Native American and the other a corrupt police officer, become lovers and reportedly flee from Los Angeles to Mexico. Haynes previously said the film contains “explicit sexual content,” and is supposed to “challenge” the viewer with its strong sexual components. Danny Ramirez, who starred in “Top Gun: Maverick,” was cast as Phoenix’s love interest. Haynes revealed that he was working on the project last year and that he, Phoenix and Jonathan Raymond had developed the story.
Surprising Fact
Haynes had said the “whole experience was prompted by Joaquin,” stating the actor had advocated for the explicit content in the film. “Joaquin was pushing me further and going ‘no, let’s go further,’” Haynes told IndieWire last year, adding the sexual content was enough that the film would likely be rated NC-17. Variety reported the crew speculated the sexual content was the reason for Phoenix’s departure, but sources told Variety they doubted that theory because of his advocacy for the project’s explicit content.
Key Background
The film would have been Haynes’ first release since his Oscar-nominated “May December,” which released on Netflix last year. Haynes is known for films with queer themes, including “Poison” (1991), “Velvet Goldmine” (1996) and the 2015 romantic drama “Carol,” which starred Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, Phoenix’s partner. Phoenix most recently starred in the 2023 films “Napoleon” and “Beau is Afraid.”
What To Watch For
Phoenix’s next movie, “Joker: Folie à Deux,” opens in theaters in October following a premiere at the Venice International Film Festival. Phoenix won an Oscar for his role in the first “Joker” film.
Further Reading
Todd Haynes’ Joaquin Phoenix Gay Romance Pic Not Moving Forward As Actor Exits Set (Deadline)
Joaquin Phoenix Abandons Todd Haynes’ Gay Romance Movie, Just Five Days Before Filming (Variety)
Conor Murray is a reporter covering trends in entertainment and culture. He is based in Jersey City and joined Forbes in 2022. Murray has covered the messy rollout for Kanye West’s latest album, the Stanley water bottle craze and right-wing backlash against companies deemed “woke.” He previously covered billionaires with the Forbes wealth team and covered pop culture and TikTok trends for NBC News. He graduated with a degree in political science from the University of Pennsylvania in 2022. Follow Murray for continued coverage of social media trends, celebrity controversies and the movie and music industries.
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