Joaquin Phoenix made headlines for his abrupt departure from Todd Haynes' untitled gay romance film just five days before filming began, IndieWire reported on August 9. The acclaimed actor, known for embodying intense roles, has denied justifying his actions while on tour for his upcoming movie, Joker: Folie à Deux, at the Venice Film Festival on September 4, 2024.
When asked why he left the project, Phoenix replied that he wouldn't give a fair answer, as no one else was there to provide their input, and it wouldn't be right to speak on their behalf. He said:
“I think if I do [speak about the reasoning], I’d just be sharing my opinion from my perspective, and the other creatives aren’t here to say their piece, and it just doesn’t feel like that would be right.”
He then added that his reasoning wouldn't be helpful either, so he refused to comment further.
Joaquin Phoenix reportedly got "cold feet" just days before filming
Todd Haynes' project revolves around a man absconding with his same-sex lover to the south of the U.S. border. The film is set in the 1930s. Haynes, Phoenix, and writer Jon Raymond had developed the film, and sets had already been constructed in Guadalajara, Mexico. However, Variety reported that the actor got "cold feet" and decided to exit the project at the last minute.
In May 2023, Haynes spoke to IndieWire about the film and revealed that Joaquin Phoenix was the one pushing the film further into explicit territory, making it an NC-17 film. He also said:
“The whole experience was prompted by Joaquin. It was prompted by his daring, his desire to push through barriers and to really get into the uncomfortable places about this relationship. And yet it felt like a very organic process.”
In the wake of the incident, Killer Films producer Christine Vachon took to social media in August 2024 to share her thoughts. She said it had "been a nightmare," adding:
“And PLEASE, if you are tempted to finger wag or admonish us that “that’s what you get for casting a straight actor – DON’T. 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.”
According to Variety, nothing can be done to recast Joaquin Phoenix’s role, leaving the project in shambles. They also reported that the crew is unemployed and everyone involved is waiting to get paid. Deadline reported in August 2024 that the project is now "dead, not paused."
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Joker: Folie à Deux is an upcoming film, with Joaquin Phoenix as the lead, alongside Lady Gaga as his love interest. The film is a musical psychological thriller directed by Todd Phillips. It will premiere on October 4, 2024, in the U.S.
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