That’s a wrap.
Todd Haynes’ new NC-17 gay detective romance movie starring Joaquin Phoenix is dead after the actor exited the project, according to a new report.
The untitled film was scrapped two weeks after Phoenix, 49, parted ways with the production, Deadline reports. During that time, the entire production was left in limbo. Producers scrambled to keep the project alive but were allegedly unable to do so.
Phoenix helped develop the project, which may be a reason why it was impossible to move forward without his involvement.
News that the Oscar-winning actor had left Haynes’ movie was first reported by Indie Wire on Friday, August 9 after rumors of Phoenix’s departure spread on social media. The outlet said that Phoenix officially dropped out of the film while in LA.
Filming was set to start in five days in Guadalajara, Mexico. According to Variety, entire sets had already been constructed on location and crew members have been left out of work and needing to be paid, with production losses potentially exceeding seven figures.
A source close to the production told the outlet that the “Joker” star got “cold feet.” Some crew members allegedly speculated that Phoenix’s exit was connected to the movie’s graphic sex scenes.
However, other sources suggested that wouldn’t make sense since Phoenix brought the original kernel of the idea to Haynes and wanted to push the envelope with the movie.
The film started with “fragments of ideas” from Phoenix, Haynes told Variety in 2023. The “Carol” director then developed those ideas into “an actual narrative” before bringing on screenwriter Jon Raymond, who co-wrote Haynes’ miniseries adaptation of “Mildred Pierce” for HBO.
“Basically it was just this wonderful, organic way to create the script,” Haynes said of the process. “And Joaquin was pushing it further into more dangerous territory, sexually.”
Phoenix was supposed to star opposite Danny Ramirez (“Top Gun: Maverick”), who joined the project in July. The 31-year-old actor was just at Comic Con promoting Marvel’s “Captain America: Brave New World.”
According to Deadline, Phoenix left Hayne’s gay romance project before Ramirez went to San Diego to press the flesh with the media and fans, leaving Ramirez wondering about the fate of the movie.
Marvel Studios on July 27, 2024. Albert L. Ortega/Shutterstock
Little has been revealed about Haynes’ latest directorial endeavor beyond what he has shared in interviews. In 2023, he described it as a “love story between two men set in the ’30s that has explicit sexual content.”
The film was supposedly going to be rated NC-17 and feature a relationship that would “challenge” audiences.
Financing for the project was reportedly secured primarily due to Phoenix’s involvement.
The Post has reached out to reps for Phoenix and Haynes for comment.
