Joaquin Phoenix ‘drops out of gay romance movie just 5 days before filming’ in Mexico after actor ‘gets cold feet’

JOAQUIN Phoenix has dropped out of an upcoming Todd Haynes-directed film just five days before filming was set to begin.

According to a report, the Oscar-winning actor got “cold feet” before he was to begin production on the yet-to-be-named film.

Getty

Getty

Joaquin , 49, had helped develop the film, which featured a detective love story, with the director as well as writer Jon Raymond.

However, according to Indie Wire , Joaquin stepped away from the movie despite an “entire set” being built in Guadalajara, Mexico.

The film, produced by Killer Films and backed by sales agent MK2 Film, relied on Joaquin’s casting and had already sold to international distributors ahead of production.

Joaquin’s exit has now put the project in peril.

The crew is now out of work, and stakeholders in the film still need to be paid. Losses could exceed seven figures, per Variety .

A source close to the production told the outlet that the actor got “cold feet.”

Last year, Haynes teased the project as a “love story between two men set in the ’30s that has explicit sexual content.”

In July, Top Gun: Maverick star Danny Ramirez was cast as Joaquin’s love interest.

The film was rumored to be rated NC-17 and feature a relationship that would “challenge” audiences.

Speculation among the crew is that Joaquin’s sudden exit was due to the graphic nature of the film’s sex scenes, per Variety.

The “cold feet” speculation seems strange to some sources, however, as it was Joaquin who brought the project – along with its NC-17 concept – to Haynes in the first place.

When speaking with Variety in September 2023, Haynes told the outlet that the film began with “fragments of ideas” from the Beau Is Afraid star, which the director transformed into “an actual narrative” before bringing Raymond on board.

“Basically it was just this wonderful, organic way to create the script,” Haynes said before adding, “And Joaquin was pushing it further into more dangerous territory, sexually.”

The actor is not expected to return to the project, per IndieWire.

[A] love story between two men set in the ’30s that has explicit sexual content.”

Todd Haynes Variety

The U.S. Sun has reached out to Joaquin’s reps for comment.

Killer Films is not yet looking to replace him and is currently focused on cutting checks for the professionals who invested their time in the project.

Killer Films had no comment for IndieWire.

FUTURE PROJECTS

Haynes, director of the 2023 Oscar-nominated film May December, has turned his attention to directing the limited series Trust, an adaptation of Hernan Diaz’s novel about upper-class financial ruin in the 20th century at HBO.

He is reteaming with his Mildred Pierce star Kate Winslet and will write the series with frequent collaborator Jon Raymond.

Joquin wrapped Ari Aster’s Western comedy, Eddington, in May and recently got Batman fans buzzing with his appearance in the new trailer to his 2019 Joker follow-up, Joker: Folie À Deux .

NO JOKE

Last month, the trailer for the highly anticipated sequel was released.

It featured Joaquin in his Academy Award-winning role of Arthur Fleck and Lady Gaga as his love interest, Harley Quinn.

Joaquin was pushing it further into more dangerous territory, sexually.”

Todd Haynes Variety

The sequel finds Arthur institutionalized at Arkham, awaiting trial for his crimes as Joker.

While struggling with his dual identity, Arthur stumbles upon true love with Harley Quinn while at the asylum and finds the music that’s been in his head all along.

After the couple’s mental hospital meet-cute, they dance, kiss, break out of their straight jackets, and wreak havoc on an unsuspecting Gotham City.

When the villain is in jail, Harley visits him and tells Arthur he can “do anything he wants.”

Lady Gaga, 38, puts on the same makeup that her character’s boyfriend wears on his face, and they become a power duo of evil.

Joker: Folie À Deux is scheduled to be released in theaters on October 4.

The film also stars Brendan Gleeson , Catherine Keener, and Zazie Beetz, reprising her role as Sophie Dumond from the first Todd Phillips-directed Joker movie .

Joker made over $1 billion in the global box office.

Getty

Getty

Getty