Oscar-winner Joaquin Phoenix has abandoned his latest film, just five days before it was due to begin filming, amid a rumor that the actor got “cold feet.”
Variety reports that Phoenix has left the film, an untitled gay romance movie from Todd Haynes (I’m Not There, Carol). Phoenix was very involved in the film, developing the screenplay with Haynes and Jon Raymond. Full sets had been built in Guadalajara, Mexico, and the film was already sold to distributors.
The site reported that the movie is now “in peril,” and that Phoenix’s part “cannot be recast.” All of the crew and stakeholders are waiting to be paid, and losses for the movie could “exceed seven figures.” Variety mentioned Phoenix potentially getting “cold feet,” but it’s not immediately clear why.
On August 14, The Hollywood Reporter published a story on the fallout. It cited an anonymous studio executive who said, “There’s been a huge amount of outrage” over the Phoenix situation. After all, it was Phoenix who himself brought the movie to Haynes in the first place.
Phoenix could now face legal consequences, the report said. “According to multiple sources, Phoenix got cold feet in the leadup to the production, though the reasons remain murky,” the publication said.
The report added that Phoenix is known to be this way, as he is said to have threatened to leave the Ridley Scott movie Napoleon unless Paul Thomas Anderson was hired to do re-writes.
“According to sources, some producers have idly talked about blackballing Phoenix over the Haynes departure, but most acknowledge that’s not realistic, particularly given that Joker 2… is expected to be a hit,” The Hollywood Reporter said.
One agent not involved in the Phoenix/Haynes situation said Phoenix is unlikely to suffer any real consequences from walking out of the movie. This source predicted that Phoenix will pay a fee in the area of low-seven figures to cover the costs associated with him abruptly leaving the film.
“As long as they threaten, he’ll settle. It’s nothing to him,” this person said.
Top Gun: Maverick actor Danny Ramirez was announced as the co-star for the film, which was a love story between two men set in the 1930s. Haynes said he intended the film to carry an NC-17 rating and feature explicit sexual content.
Separately, Deadline reported that Phoenix “walked off set” in late July. The report also mentioned how Ramirez flew to San Diego for Comic-Con not knowing if the Haynes movie would actually be made.
This isn’t the first time a movie featuring Phoenix has shut down just before filming was due to commence. In 2023, the indie film The Island starring Phoenix and Rooney Mara was shut down on the eve of filming due to issues with its insurance coverage.
Phoenix will be seen next in the DC movie Joker: Folie a Deux, the long-awaited sequel to the 2019 film that he won an Oscar for. Phoenix is also set to appear in Ari Aster’s Eddington.
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