Did Joaquin Phoenix Threaten to Leave Ridley Scott’s Napoleon Before Quitting Todd Haynes’ Gay Romance? Report Reveals

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As a die-hard fan, I must admit that Joaquin Phoenix‘s enigmatic nature has always been part of his allure. His latest withdrawal from a highly anticipated gay romance drama, just days before filming was to begin, is yet another chapter in the intriguing saga of this versatile actor.

Actor Joaquin Phoenix, renowned for his versatility and having won an Academy Award, has garnered attention by backing out of a gay romance film that Todd Haynes was slated to direct, only five days prior to the start of production.

According to Deadline, Variety, and Indiewire, it appears that he experienced a sudden change of heart just before the final decision. People close to the filmmakers have stated that there are no immediate plans to fill the role again, and the project has been postponed indefinitely. This unexpected twist has left both regular moviegoers and industry professionals puzzled about the project’s future.

Initially planned as a romantic tale set in the 1930s featuring Joaquin Phoenix and Danny Ramirez (famous for Top Gun: Maverick), the movie was expected to challenge norms due to its graphic sexual content, potentially earning an NC-17 rating. However, with Phoenix no longer involved, the project has unfortunately collapsed.

On multiple occasions, Phoenix has shown reluctance to fully commit to a movie project, just as he did with Ridley Scott’s film Napoleon. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Phoenix threatened to back out unless Paul Thomas Anderson, the director of The Master, was brought in to revise the script. The report noted that Phoenix tends to have reservations before filming different projects. However, he ultimately agreed to work on Napoleon, which earned USD 221 million globally and received three Oscar nominations for technical categories.

As Joker: Folie à Deux prepares for its debut at the Venice Film Festival, there’s growing apprehension that Phoenix’s recent decisions might generate so much controversy that it could overshadow the media tour. This has led to an unusual situation where he, who typically shuns extensive media attention, is now facing a surge of interviews. Despite this, the film is expected to be a hit at the box office.

Experts in the industry believe that Phoenix’s actions won’t result in significant professional setbacks. One representative remarked that Phoenix may negotiate settlements with producers to cover the substantial losses from his departure. The public and critics are now eagerly watching to see how Phoenix navigates these challenges.

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2024-08-14 14:08