Last week, just five days before filming began, Joaquin Phoenix abruptly dropped out of Todd Haynes’ gay romance film, sparking a wave that now has implications far beyond the confines of the Guadalajara, Mexico, set.
Hollywood producers say ‘people are very angry’ over reaction to Phoenix’s last-minute departure, which has left cast and crew in limbo and now the actor may face legal action.
The departure is particularly surprising given that Phoenix first brought the project to Haynes and his longtime producers at Hitman Films under Christine Vachon and Pamela Koffler.
The untitled film also stars Captain America: Brave New WorldIt is said that the film’s Danny Ramirez mainly tells the story of intense gay love in the 1930s. According to multiple sources, “Phoenix” got cold feet before filming, but the reasons remain unclear. Representatives for Phoenix did not respond to requests for comment. Hitman Films declined to comment.
The actor is known to literally get cold feet before filming various projects. two sources Tell THR He threatens to leave Ridley Scott Napoleon Unless his master Filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson was brought in to rewrite the film. After being reassured, he continued working on the project, which hit theaters late last year.
As Phoenix once said 60 minutesAnderson Cooper is often “stunned” when he takes on a role, and “nervous” before filming, worrying that he won’t “find the right place to express” his ideas.
Calls from the production community for legal action against Phoenix have grown louder in recent days, with industry insiders pointing to examples throughout Hollywood history of actors being held accountable for leaving films without their stars.
In 1993, a court ruled that Kim Basinger violated an oral contract to star in a Mainline Pictures film boxing helenaBasinger was ordered to pay the company at least $8.92 million in damages. The ruling was overturned the following year, and Basinger eventually settled with Main Line in 1995, agreeing to pay $3.8 million.
Others mention Bruce Willis quitting an unfinished Disney movie broadway brawlers mid-production, and then had to make three Disney movies at below market rates to make up for it. (The situation worked out to everyone’s advantage when two of the films ended up being hits end of the world and sixth sense.)
The controversy comes as Phoenix prepares for action Clown: Pas de deux Go to Venice and possibly other festivals. Haynes’ film will likely cast a pall over the press tour, though Phoenix has historically rarely done solo press coverage, even for his high-profile roles, and often didn’t do so until later in the awards season.
exist clownhe and Warners turned down most major requests, and the film’s Los Angeles premiere didn’t feature anyone being interviewed on the red carpet because clown The film also faced controversy over concerns it would spark violence. The film ultimately grossed $1 billion at the box office and earned Phoenix an Oscar.
In fact, the actor’s taciturn attitude and reputation for insecurity didn’t seem to hurt his Oscar chances, and at times even seemed to help him win over voters. Phoenix’s elaborate hoax that he was going to be a rapper — and he was ridiculed by many when he did so in 2010 — didn’t stop him from receiving a Best Actor nomination. master Two years later.
Still, film festivals do require red carpets and press conferences, and Phoenix’s presence at either event would likely distract fans and media alike from being so close to the film in which he decided to leave Haynes.
According to sources, some producers have casually talked about turning down Phoenix because of Haynes’ departure, but most admit that’s unrealistic, especially given the Joker 2It is expected to be released on October 4 and will be a huge hit.
An agent not affiliated with Haynes’ film doesn’t think Phoenix will ultimately face a major career setback. This person predicts the actor will be content with the film’s low seven-figure production fee, citing his big pay day clown The actors in the movie have enough cash to deal with this situation. “As long as they threaten, he’ll settle. That’s fine with him,” the agent said.
— Steven Zechik contributed to this story.
