Joaquin Phoenix Reportedly Gets Cold Feet And Exits Gay Romance Project

Joaquin Phoenix has suddenly left director Todd Haynes’s upcoming untitled gay romance, just five days before filming was set to begin in Guadalajara, Mexico. The Oscar-winning actor was supposed to star in the detective love story, which he co-wrote.

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He reportedly decided to drop out of the film due to having “cold feet.” His decision left the project in limbo as entire sets were constructed when Phoenix exited in early July. Additionally, other reports claim the role cannot be recast, leading to job losses for the crew and financial losses for investors. The film, produced by Killer Films and supported by sales agent MK2 Film, had already been sold to international distributors, further complicating the situation.

The actor’s co-star, Danny Ramirez, signed on to play his love interest in the film. The film gained attention due to Haynes’ reputation for directing critically acclaimed queer films such as Carol (2015) and May December (2023), as reported by The Independent . Haynes initially teased the project in 2023 during an interview with Variety, describing it as “a love story between two men set in the ’30s that has explicit sexual content.” He added that the film, reportedly expected to receive an NC-17 rating, would challenge audiences with its narrative.

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Despite stepping away from the role, Joaquin Phoenix is set to reprise his role as Joker/Arthur Fleck in the highly anticipated sequel, “Joker: Folie A Deux.” He will star alongside Lady Gaga, who will play Harley Quinn in the musical sequel. The movie is scheduled for release on October 4, 2024, marking five years since the original film’s release in 2019. The original picture grossed over $1 billion, making it the most profitable R-rated movie ever.