Joaquin Phoenix Abruptly Leaves Todd Haynes’ Romance Movie, No Plans to Recast

Joaquin Phoenix has abruptly exited Todd Haynes’ new movie.

In September 2023, Haynes revealed that he was making a “sexually explicit movie” that tells a “love story between two men set in the 30s.” Phoenix had been cast as one of the men, while Captain America: Brave New World’s Danny Ramirez was tapped to play the other in July 2024.

Haynes was shooting the movie in Guadalajara when, per Deadline, Phoenix abruptly left the set approximately two weeks ago.

Haynes’ romance movie is reportedly dead following Joaquin Phoenix’s departure

“The movie is unfortunately dead without The Joker Oscar winner attached as there are no plans to recast,” Deadline’s article reads. “Crew members are due money. Phoenix walked off-set just prior to Comic-Con. I understand Ramirez flew to San Diego Comic-Con not knowing whether production would resume or not.”

It’s not clear at this time why Phoenix decided to exit the film, which was being produced by Christine Vachon and Pam Koffler.

Haynes is known for making 1995’s Safe, 1998’s Velvet Goldmine, 2002’s Far from Heaven, 2007’s I’m Not There, 2015’s Carol, 2017’s Wonderstruck, 2019’s Dark Waters, 2021’s The Velvet Underground, and, most recently, 2023’s May December. He was also recently tapped to write and direct an HBO limited series titled Trust starring Kate Winslet.

Phoenix, meanwhile, won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance as Arthur Fleck in 2019’s Joker. He’ll soon be seen reprising the role in the upcoming Todd Phillips-directed sequel, Joker: Folie á Deux, which co-stars Lady Gaga. The DC film will be released in United States theaters on October 4, 2024.

Following that, Phoenix will be seen in Midsommar director Ari Aster’s next movie, Eddington, which also stars Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone, Austin Butler, Luke Grimes, and more. Eddington does not yet have a release date from A24.