Aug 10, 2024 07:41 AM IST
Joaquin Phoenix had to back out of the project at the last minute due to the film’s ‘subject matter’.
Actor Joaquin Phoenix backed out of a film at the last minute, which led to the project never being released. He was supposed to play the lead role in a gay romance film, but the actor made a last-minute “goof” that forced him to abruptly leave the project.
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Phoenix leaves gay romance film
According to Deadline’s report, the film directed by Todd Haynes revolved around two gay lovers who left California for Mexico and reportedly had some “raunchy intimate scenes” between them. According to Page Six’s report, “the film’s subject matter was a factor” in Phoenix’s exit from the film. The actor’s exit was a blow to the director and John Ramon as he was very involved with the film’s script.
In an interview with IndieWire last year, Haynes said, “The next film is a feature that’s an original script that I wrote with Joaquin Phoenix. The script is based on some thoughts and ideas he brought to me. We basically wrote it with him as the story writer. Me and John Raymond and Joaquin share story credit. And we’re hoping to start shooting early next year. It’s a gay love story set in 1930s L.A.”
According to a source, the project is almost over as it was sold to distributors with Phoenix being the reason it was sold. The film’s team is now unemployed and the debt will rise to over seven figures as stakeholders have not yet been paid.
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Phoenix’s work takes a toll on his mental health
The Joker actor is known for his method acting and the intense characters he has played over the years have taken a toll on his mental health. In 2017, Caterer spoke about going to rehab due to his character Johnny Cash in Walk in Line, as he would drink and party too much despite being out of character.
A filmmaker who has worked with Phoenix said, “He’s better at being a character than he is at being himself. He actually thinks he’s boring. Hiding out is a natural state for him.” He added that the actor was “good at playing people in shock” because he was “stuck in shock.” The producer also shared details about the actor’s childhood, where he mentioned that the star “grew up in a cult. His brother died in front of him. None of that presupposes someone like that to be normal.”
In February, Phoenix announced that he was expecting his second child with wife Rooney Mara.
