Yahoo News Joaquin Phoenix exits new movie only days before filming
Joaquin Phoenix has exited an upcoming film just days before it was due to start filming, with production since ceasing.
The untitled film, which was co-written by Phoenix alongside director Todd Haynes and Jon Raymond, was due to follow two men (Phoenix and Danny Ramirez) falling in love in the 1930s, with the project reportedly including some explicit scenes.
The film, which saw the central couple leave California for Mexico, looks like it will sadly never see the light of day, with IndieWire reporting that Phoenix dropped out of the project last month just five days before filming was set to begin in Guadalajara.
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With the development coming so far into production, Deadline has reported that the project is now dead in the water as no plans have been made to recast Phoenix’s role, leaving several crew members in limbo regarding their pay.
Haynes, who has drawn acclaim for Carol and Far from Heaven, had previously spoken about the doomed project last year, teasing (via IndieWire): “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 to me.
“We basically wrote with him as a story writer. Me, 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 LA. Joaquin was pushing me further and going ‘no, let’s go further.’ This will be an NC-17 film.”
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In a later interview during the press tour for May December, Haynes outlined that Phoenix was the main driver behind the film, explaining: “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.”
Phoenix will next be seen on the big screen alongside Lady Gaga as he reprises his Academy Award-winning role of Arthur Fleck in Joker: Folie à Deux, the sequel to the 2019 film from Todd Phillips.
Joker: Folie à Deux is scheduled for a cinema release date of October 4. Joker is available to buy on Blu-ray or streaming now.
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