Joaquin Phoenix has backed out of Todd Haynes’ new gay romance movie just five days before filming was due to commence. According to Variety, the film was about to start shooting next week in Guadalajara, Mexico. Phoenix had been working on the script for the film that he withdrew from. The project had already been sold to international distributors, making the future of the movie uncertain. The film crew is now jobless, and the losses are rumoured to be potentially in seven figures.
Neither Todd Haynes nor Joaquin Phoenix have commented on the reports surrounding Phoenix’s exit, fueling rumours of the graphic nature of the sex scenes in the movie as the cause. Phoenix was recently seen playing Arthur Fleck in ‘Joker: Folie à Deux,’ set for release on October 2. Lady Gaga joined him in the cast as Harley Quinn, the Joker’s sidekick and lover.
Apart from his role in Joker: Folie à Deux, the actor is set to star in Eddington, Ari Aster’s contemporary western, with Emma Stone, Pedro Pascal, and Austin Butler. The film has yet to receive a release date, but reports say that Phoenix has also signed up for the movie. In addition, Phoenix has been announced to be a cast member of a film called Kitbag, directed by Ridley Scott, with the actor set to play Napoleon Bonaparte.
Phoenix’s backing out of the movie puts the future of the gay romance project in jeopardy. However, Haynes has a solid list of films under his belt and is known for critically acclaimed movies such as Carol, I’m Not There, and May December.
As the show must go on, the gay romance movie’s producer, Christine Vachon, has already started the search for a replacement for Phoenix. Vachon said in a statement, “We remain committed to this ambitious and exciting film and look forward to bringing it to audiences around the world.
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