Joaquin Phoenix Drops Out of Gay Romance 5 Days Before Shooting Was to Begin

Mar. 15, 2025

Joaquin Phoenix.Photo:Gareth Cattermole/Getty

Gareth Cattermole/Getty

Joaquin Phoenixhas backed out of Todd Haynes' gay romance just days before it was scheduled to begin filming. Now, the movie has been shelved altogether.

Phoenix was set to star in the untitled film as a man fleeing to Mexico with his lover but pulled out five days ahead of production in Guadalajara, Mexico. He never made it to Mexico and instead exited the project from Los Angeles, perIndieWire, the outlet was the first to report. Phoenix developed the movie with Haynes and author Jon Raymond. Killer Films was set to produce and MK2 was the sales rep.

It isn’t clear why Phoenix dropped out, but finances were likely a factor, IndieWire reports, asVariety reportsthe actor got “cold feet.” International sales for the movie started before the European Film Market in February. However, the project began to decline in July.

Insiders told the outlet last year that the film was going to take place in the 1930s with an NC-17 rating, meaning it’s inappropriate for those younger than 18.

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Now that Phoenix is out, the film is no longer happening,Deadlinereports, adding that the future of the movie, which was also supposed to star Danny Ramirez, has been uncertain ever since Phoenix left the set a couple of weeks ago, and crew members have yet to be paid.

Producer Christine Vachon confirmed Phoenix’s exit on Facebook.

“A version of this did happen,” she began on Friday, Aug. 9. “It has been a nightmare.”

She went on to defend the decision to cast Phoenix, who is heterosexual, as a gay character.

Joaquin Phoenix.Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images

Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images

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“And PLEASE – if you are tempted to finger wag or admonish us that “that’s what you get for casting a straight actor” –DON’T,” she continued. “This was HIS project that he brought to US– and Killer’s record on working with LGBTQ actors/crew/directors speaks for itself. (and for those of you who HAVE– know that you are making a terrible situation even worse).”

Meanwhile, Haynes is said to be moving on to his next project, the limited seriesTrustthat he’s writing alongside Raymond, per IndieWire.

Phoenix is reprising his role as The Joker inJoker: Folie à Deux,out later this year.

PEOPLE reached out to a representative for Phoenix for comment.

source: people.com