Joaquin Phoenix’s Exit From Todd Haynes’ Gay Film ‘Is A Terrible Situation’ Says Producer; Netizens Are Unhappy

As a lifestyle expert with decades of experience in the entertainment industry, I must say, Joaquin Phoenix’s sudden exit from Todd Haynes’ project has left me quite intrigued and a bit disappointed. Having followed the careers of both these talented individuals closely, I can’t help but feel that this unexpected turn of events is akin to a well-orchestrated Hollywood twist, only this time it seems to be happening off-screen.


It appears that Joaquin Phoenix recently withdrew from Todd Haynes’ upcoming project just before its scheduled start of production, which has come as quite a surprise given his current involvement in Joker 2. Unfortunately, it seems that the film, focusing on the LGBTQ+ community, has been put on hold indefinitely since Phoenix played a crucial role and replacing him at such short notice would be challenging.

It seems that Joaquin was the one who proposed the project to Haynes and producer Christine Vachon. Despite the reason for his departure from the project remaining undisclosed, according to Variety, it’s possible that Joaquin may have developed second thoughts or ‘cold feet’ before filming commenced. In a now-removed Facebook post, the producer discussed the challenging circumstances they currently find themselves in following his exit and defended their decision to cast Joaquin as the main character, asserting it was indeed his project.

What the producer has to say

Christine Vachon stated, “This event indeed occurred, and it has been a terrible ordeal for us. If I haven’t reached out to you or responded to your call, this is the reason. And kindly refrain from scolding or criticizing us with comments like ‘that’s what you get for casting a straight actor’. This was HIS project that he presented to US, and Killer’s history of collaborating with LGBTQ actors, crew, and directors serves as evidence. For those who have made such remarks, please understand that you are exacerbating an already difficult situation.”

Joaquin advocated strongly for the direction of an as-yet-unnamed movie. Director Todd Haynes confirmed this to Indiewire and revealed that Joaquin insisted on making the film NC-17 (restricted for audiences under 18). Haynes added, “Joaquin was urging me to go even further, saying ‘Let’s push it more.’ This movie will be an NC-17 film. The entire creative process was driven by Joaquin. It was his boldness, his ambition to break boundaries, and his determination to explore the uncomfortable aspects of this relationship that fueled the project. And yet, it all felt very natural.”

Netizens’ reactions

Given the widespread online chatter, internet users are showing great excitement about the topic. Some have criticized the actor, while others are skeptical that he left the project, suggesting there might be additional details to uncover. On Twitter, one user commented, “I get a feeling there’s more to this tale than we’re being informed, honestly… I hope for more information about it. This situation is peculiar, and I sympathize with the production team.”

In response to a comment about Joaquin Phoenix, I feel compelled to express my perspective:

How Joaquin Phoenix’s exit impacted the production of the project

As a die-hard cinema enthusiast, I can’t contain my excitement about the upcoming project that was set to revolve around a heartrending love story between two men, reminiscent of the 1930s era. This groundbreaking venture would have marked Joaquin Phoenix’s debut in portraying a gay character, a role I eagerly anticipated witnessing. Adding fuel to my anticipation was the inclusion of Danny Ramirez, fresh from his appearance in Top Gun: Maverick and slated for Captain America: Brave New World.

According to reports from Indiewire, the film was supposed to start shooting in Mexico. Unfortunately, Joaquin withdrew from the project five days before production could begin in Los Angeles. Despite the sets being constructed, he never arrived at the location. This sudden departure has caused chaos within the entire production team.

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2024-08-13 14:09