Joaquin Phoenix Bows Out of Ambitious Todd Haynes Project Right Before Shoot Starts
Joaquin Phoenix Leaves Project Days Before the Start of Filming
Oscar-winner Joaquin Phoenix has abandoned a project that he was going to be working on with acclaimed director Todd Haynes.
So, everyone knows the eccentric Joaquin Phoenix has had a few oddball movies throughout his mostly distinguished career but, perhaps, there was one so ambitious that, if it failed, it could have tarnished Phoenix’s reputation. Or maybe there was something else going on. Irreconcilable differences between Phoenix and the filmmakers, perhaps? Word had it that this one-time upcoming Todd Haynes project which Phoenix abandoned had been setting out to “push boundaries” and earn a hard “NC-17” rating. It’s also no secret that it was a “gay” film but almost twenty years after Brokeback Mountain, it would be premature (and, most likely, false) to cite the theme of the film as the reason Phoenix left the picture.
Phoenix is certainly not afraid to work with ambitious directors. He was at his best when he starred in the visionary Paul Thomas Anderson’s 2012 masterpiece, The Master, but when he worked with horror movie director, Ari Aster (Hereditary), on the 2023 box-office bomb, Beau is Afraid, audiences were unhappy with the finished product despite some good critical notices. In any event, Phoenix left Haynes’ film just five days before it was set to start shooting in Mexico which has raised some eyebrows in Hollywood.
It’s more surprising to know Phoenix co-wrote this Haynes film which was a detective story that takes place in the 1930’s. Why would Phoenix back down on something which seemed so close to him? Speculation would not be wise at this point but, hopefully, the acclaimed actor will give a reason why he chose to back out of Haynes’ ambitious movie. Needless to say, people behind the scenes may lose out on pay which further complicates an already delicate situation.
Todd Haynes stunned many critics with the quality of last year’s probing drama, May December, which didn’t get all the Oscar love that many of the people involved with the film (namely, Netflix) had been hoping it would attain. The performances were all shut out of the Academy Award nominations but won accolades countless other places. The stars included Julianne Moore, Natalie Portman and up-and-comer Charles Melton.
Also, Danny Ramirez had been cast alongside Phoenix in Haynes’ project that Phoenix recently left. It remains uncertain (as of now) what will become of this potentially still forthcoming picture. Meanwhile, Phoenix will be doing his thing and shooting for an Oscar nomination with the upcoming sequel to 2019’s Joker which is due out in early October of this year. Phoenix is playing with Lady Gaga in that (also) highly ambitious motion picture which is certain to get audiences into theaters on its opening weekend.
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