Joaquin Phoenix has addressed his sudden decision to drop out of a highly anticipated gay romance film directed by Todd Haynes just five days before filming was scheduled to begin. The film, which was to star Phoenix alongside “Top Gun: Maverick” actor Danny Ramirez, was set in the 1930s and included explicit sexual content. Despite bringing the NC-17 rated project to Haynes himself, Phoenix unexpectedly withdrew, citing personal reservations, though not specifying any particular reason.
Phoenix remained vague about his departure at a press conference for his upcoming film, “Joker: Folie à Deux,” stating that he didn’t think discussing the matter would be productive without the other creatives present. The film’s production was heavily impacted by his decision, resulting in significant financial losses exceeding seven figures, and the project was eventually shelved.
The director, Todd Haynes, revealed that the film’s concept originally came from Phoenix, who had been pushing for more provocative and boundary-pushing material. This made Phoenix’s last-minute exit even more surprising to the production team and stakeholders involved.
Despite the setback, Phoenix is continuing his promotional duties for “Joker: Folie à Deux” at the Venice Film Festival. Meanwhile, the dropped project serves as a reminder of the unpredictability in the film industry, where even the most committed projects can change course unexpectedly.
