Joaquin Phoenix’s ‘Tragic’ Exit From Todd Haynes Movie Addressed by Producer

Christine Vachon, a producer on Todd Haynes’ gay romance movie, has addressed Joaquin Phoenix’s abrupt exit from the project.

Phoenix had previously been cast alongside Danny Ramirez in Haynes’ upcoming romance movie about two men who embark on a sexually explicit affair while departing from Los Angeles in the 1930s.

Phoenix, however, reportedly stormed off the set five days before production was scheduled to begin in Guadalajara.

What did Christine Vachon say about Joaquin Phoenix’s departure from Todd Haynes’ movie?

Speaking about the matter at the San Sebastian Film Festival, via The Hollywood Reporter, Vachon said, “The truth is, pretty much what happened is out there for all of you to see. If I had anything to gossip about it, I would, but I don’t. It was tragic. The most tragic part about it, in my mind, is Todd Haynes is 62. There’s a finite number of films that they’ll be able to do in his lifetime. I consider him one of the most extraordinary film artists of his generation. 

“The idea that his time was wasted and that a movie is not a result of those years of working closely with Joaquin, that is the tragedy to me and that I can’t get over. We, as a cultural community, lost an opportunity to have another movie by Todd Haynes. That is just criminal.”

The movie is now seemingly dead following Phoenix’s departure, though Phoenix has not publicly stated his reasons for leaving the project.

Phoenix was asked about the matter when promoting Joker: Folie á Deux at the 2024 Venice Film Festival earlier this month. 

“If I do, I’d just be sharing my opinion from my perspective, and the other creatives aren’t here to share their piece, so I don’t think that would be helpful. So I won’t,” Phoenix told reporters when asked for comment about the situation.