Academy Award-winning actor Joaquin Phoenix had abruptly withdrawn from an untitled gay romance film mere days before production began, according to The Daily Wire.
The sudden departure, attributed to "cold feet," has left the production in disarray and facing potential financial losses.
The film, directed by Todd Haynes, was scheduled to start filming in Mexico this month. Just five days before the commencement of production, Phoenix's exit forced the project to be put on hold. The actor's decision to withdraw at such a late stage has created significant challenges for the studio, as it is reportedly too late to recast his role.
The untitled movie had already been sold to international distributors before production began, adding to the complexity of the situation. Phoenix's departure has left the cast and crew without work and could potentially result in financial losses reaching seven figures.
Danny Ramirez, known for his role in "Top Gun: Maverick," was set to play Phoenix's love interest in the film. The project's unexpected halt has implications for the lead actors and the entire production team involved.
The film industry often faces challenges when high-profile actors withdraw from projects, but the timing of Phoenix's exit is particularly problematic given how close the production was to starting.
Todd Haynes, the film's director, had previously shared insights about the project's development in September 2023. He described the movie as a love story between two men set in the 1930s, with explicit sexual content.
Haynes, known for his work on "May December," explained the evolution of the project:
It's a love story between two men set in the 30s that has explicit sexual content that or at least it challenges you with the sexual relationship between these two men. One is a Native American character and one is a corrupt cop in LA... And what was so remarkable is that it all started with Joaquin having some ideas and some thoughts and just questions and images. And he came to me and said, 'Does this connect to you at all?' And I was like, 'Yeah, this is really interesting.' And so we would just be on the phone talking and it developed into a script.
The director's comments highlight the collaborative nature of the project's inception, with Phoenix playing a significant role in its conceptualization.
According to Haynes, Phoenix was deeply involved in the creative process from the beginning. The actor's ideas and thoughts served as the foundation for the script, which was then developed through conversations between Phoenix and Haynes.
The director noted that Phoenix was instrumental in pushing the project into "more dangerous territory, sexually." This level of involvement makes the actor's sudden withdrawal even more surprising, given his apparent commitment to the film's concept and development.
Phoenix's contributions to the script and his influence on the project's direction underscore the significant impact his departure has on the overall production. His exit not only affects the casting but also potentially alters the creative vision that he helped shape.
Joaquin Phoenix's last-minute withdrawal from the untitled gay romance film has caused significant disruption to the production. The project, which was set to begin filming in Mexico, is now on hold with no immediate replacement for Phoenix. The sudden exit has financial implications for the studio and affects the work schedules of the cast and crew. Director Todd Haynes had previously spoken about Phoenix's involvement in developing the film's concept, making the actor's departure particularly impactful on the project's creative direction.
