Looks like Joaquin Phoenix just ghosted on what was supposed to be his passion project. According to recent reports, the Oscar-winning actor abruptly exited Todd Haynes’ 1930s-set gay romance just five days before cameras were set to roll in Guadalajara, Mexico. The move has effectively killed the film, leaving producers scrambling and co-star Danny Ramirez flying to Comic-Con without knowing if the project would ever see the light of day.
What makes this so wild is that Phoenix was the one who initiated the project. He didn’t just agree to star in it—he was the creative force behind the whole thing. Last year, Haynes described the film as an “original script” that he and Phoenix developed together. Phoenix had pitched the concept to Haynes, collaborated on the script, and even pushed for the film to include intense, NC-17-level intimacy scenes between the male leads. It was all driven by his desire to “push through barriers” and explore “uncomfortable places” in storytelling.
Yet here we are, with Phoenix reportedly getting “cold feet” at the eleventh hour. According to sources close to the production, his departure has left the entire project dead in the water. Without Phoenix, who investors were banking on to sell the film internationally, there’s no movie. This wasn’t just any film—it was one tailored specifically around Phoenix’s vision.
Producer Christine Vachon, who’s been with Haynes since his first feature in 1991, didn’t mince words about the situation. Posting on Facebook, Vachon called the abrupt exit “a nightmare,” emphasizing that this was Phoenix’s project from start to finish. She also defended Killer Films against criticisms about casting Phoenix, a straight actor, in a gay role, pointing out the company’s long history of supporting LGBTQ voices in the industry.
But now, the fallout is real, with reports that multiple stakeholders, from financiers to crew members, are still waiting to be compensated for their work. Haynes, meanwhile, is expected to shift his focus to his upcoming HBO series Trust, starring Kate Winslet, leaving this particular passion project in the dust.
As for Phoenix, he’s moving on to promote Joker: Folie à Deux, but the question remains: What could have possibly led him to walk away from a film that was so deeply rooted in his own creative vision? Was it a sudden case of creative differences, or something more personal? Whatever the reason, his exit has left a gaping hole in what could have been one of the most provocative films of the year.
