EXCLUSIVE: Production of Todd Haynes‘ gay romance movie is completely dead. The pic has been in limbo for the last two weeks as Joaquin Phoenix reportedly stormed off the set of the movie which also starred Top Gun: Maverick‘s Danny Ramirez. Producers during that time were trying to put the project back together again.
Production is dead, and not paused, as there are no plans to recast the role played by The Joker Oscar winner. Crew members on the Guadalajara, Mexico set are due money.
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Phoenix walked off set just prior to Comic-Con. I understand Ramirez flew to San Diego for the convention to promote Marvel Studios’ Captain America: Brave New World not knowing whether production would resume or not.
The movie follows two men, one played by Phoenix, who have an intense relationship and leave California for Mexico. Haynes regular Christine Vachon is producing as well as Pam Koffler. No further details on what sparked Phoenix’s retreat; he has a reputation for being a deeply-committed actor. There was buzz that this film had its fair share of edgy scenes.
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MK2 Films was the sales rep on the production.
Haynes’ films, such as Poison, Velvet Goldmine and May December, often deal with LGBTQ+ themes. His Cannes Film Festival premiere Carol was another such movie, but set during the buttoned-up era of 1950s New York. Carol went on to be nominated for six Oscars including Cate Blanchett for Best Actress and Rooney Mara for Best Supporting Actress. Mara, Phoenix’s partner, won Best Actress at Cannes, where the movie won the Queer Palm.
Next up for Phoenix is the press tour for Joker: Folie à Deux which is world premiering at Venice and guaranteed to be a fall blockbuster — and another R-rated benchmark for comic book movies. The Joker — despite Deadpool & Wolverine‘s success with $924 million and counting at the worldwide box office — remains the highest grossing R-rated movie ever at $1.1 billion. D&W, though, owns the R-rated all-time record at the domestic B.O. at $440M, well ahead of Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ ($370M).