The producer for Todd Haynes’ gay romance film has opened up about Joaquin Phoenix’s abrupt departure.
On 9 August, reports claimed that the Joker star had walked away from the untilted project five days before filming was set to start.
According to Variety, a source alleged that Phoenix got “cold feet” due to the film’s graphic sex scenes.
The departure of The Gladiator star – who is not currently being recast – has reportedly jeopardised the film, with various crew members and stakeholders still needing to be paid. The financial loss could potentially add up to “seven figures.”
Lastly, in an additional report from Deadline, Phoenix allegedly “walked off set” in July, with his co-star Danny Ramirez attending San Diego Comic Con, unsure about the film’s future.
While Haynes and Phoenix have yet to release a statement, one of the film’s producers – Christine Vachon of Killer Films – gave some insight into the situation, describing it as a “nightmare”.
“A version of this did happen. It has been a nightmare,” she wrote in a now-deleted Facebook post.
Elsewhere in her statement, Vachon asked online critics not to “finger wag or admonish” her or the creative team for hiring a straight actor in the role.
“This was HIS project that he brought to US – and Killer’s record on working with LGBTQ actors/crew/directors speaks for itself. (and for those of you who HAVE – know that you are making a terrible situation even worse),” she added.
Phoenix’s untitled gay romance drama first made waves in May 2023, when Haynes announced that he was teaming up with the Her actor on the film.
“The next film is a feature that’s an original script that I developed with Joaquin Phoenix based on some thoughts and ideas he brought me,” the May December director revealed to Indie Wire.
“We basically wrote with him as a story writer. Me and Jon Raymond and Joaquin share the story credit. And we hope to be shooting it beginning early next year. It’s a gay love story set in 1930s L.A..”
Excitement for the film continued to grow in July 2024, when Ramirez joined the cast as Phoenix’s love interest.
Stay tuned for more updates.
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