Joaquin Phoenix declined to answer a question from a reporter at the Venice Film Festival about why he abruptly left Todd Haynes’ romantic gay drama film last month, which reportedly led to the film’s cancelation as there were no plans to recast Phoenix’s role.
Joaquin Phoenix dropped out of Todd Haynes' gay romantic drama film last month. (Photo by Elisabetta ... [+]
Phoenix, who is in Venice for the premiere of “Joker: Folie à Deux,” refused to explain why he abruptly walked out on Haynes’ film, stating at a press conference: “The other creatives aren’t here to say their piece, and it just doesn’t feel like that would be right. I am not sure how that would be helpful.”
IndieWire first reported on Aug. 9, 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 weeks before.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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)