Joaquin Phoenix refuses to reveal why he quit gay romance film: ‘Not sure how that would be helpful’
on his sudden departure from Todd Haynes’ NC-17 gay detective romance movie — just five days before the film was set to start filming.The 49-year-old was asked about his controversial exit during a press conference for his upcoming movie, “Joker: Folie à Deux,” at the Venice Film Festival on Wednesday. “I think if I do [speak about the reasoning], I’d just be sharing my opinion from my perspective, and the other creatives aren’t here to say their piece, and it just doesn’t feel like that would be right,” Phoenix explained.“I’m not sure how that would be helpful.
So I don’t think I will,” the Oscar winner added.The film from Haynes, 63, was set to begin shooting in Guadalajara, Mexico, but Phoenix pulled the plug while still in Los Angeles, IndieWire reported Aug.
9. The untitled project — about a man fleeing south of the US border with his male lover — was developed by Haynes, Phoenix and author Jon Raymond.The movie has since been shelved indefinitely after financials started creating a potential production rift.“Joaquin was pushing me further and going, ‘No, let’s go further.’ This will be an NC-17 film,” Haynes told IndieWire before the film was axed. “The whole experience was prompted by Joaquin.
It was prompted by his daring, his desire to push through barriers and to really get into the uncomfortable places about this relationship.
