The news of Joaquin Phoenix abandoning his latest film, just five days before filming was set to begin, has sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry. This unexpected turn of events has left the entire production in disarray, with full sets already built in Guadalajara, Mexico, and the film already sold to distributors. Variety reports that the film, an untitled gay romance movie from Todd Haynes, is now “in peril” following Phoenix’s abrupt departure. The decision to leave the project has led to significant financial losses, with potential figures exceeding seven figures. The crew and stakeholders involved are now left in a state of uncertainty, waiting to be paid for their work on the film.
The Unclear Reason Behind the Departure
While Variety mentioned the possibility of Phoenix getting “cold feet” as the reason for his departure, the exact motive remains unclear. Despite being heavily involved in the project and having collaborated on the screenplay development with Haynes and Jon Raymond, Phoenix’s sudden exit has left many scratching their heads. The promising love story between two men set in the 1930s, intended to carry an NC-17 rating and feature explicit sexual content, now hangs in limbo without its lead actor. The co-star for the film, Danny Ramirez, must now navigate the uncertainty of the project’s future, having flown to San Diego for Comic-Con unsure if the film would proceed as planned.
Past Instances of Film Setbacks
This is not the first time Joaquin Phoenix has been associated with a movie that faced setbacks just before filming. In 2023, the indie film “The Island,” in which Phoenix was set to star alongside Rooney Mara, was shut down due to issues with insurance coverage. These repeated instances of film projects being derailed due to unforeseen circumstances raise questions about Phoenix’s commitment to his roles and the impact of such decisions on the industry as a whole. Despite his acclaimed work in films like “Joker,” for which he won an Oscar, and his upcoming projects like “Joker: Folie a Deux” and Ari Aster’s “Eddington,” Phoenix’s reputation in the industry may be called into question following this latest turn of events.
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