Todd Haynes breaks silence on Joaquin Phoenix’s shock exit from his gay drama
Todd Haynes has finally opened up about Joaquin Phoenix’s exit from his untitled gay romance. Back in May 2023, the Enlightened director announced that he was collaborating with the HER star on an NC-17 gay romance drama. “The next film is a feature that’s an original script that I developed with Joaquin Phoenix based on some thoughts and ideas he brought me,” Haynes revealed during a sit down with Indie Wire. “We basically wrote with him as a story writer.
Me and Jon Raymond and Joaquin share the story credit. And we hope to be shooting it beginning early next year. It’s a gay love story set in 1930s L.A..” A year later, movie enthusiasts were treated to an exciting cast update when Top Gun: Maverick star Danny Ramirez joined the project as Phoenix’s love interest.
In a report from Deadline, their characters were described as “intense lovers” who embark on a journey from California to Mexico.
While it seemed like everything was in line for Haynes’ film to move forward, the esteemed director was hit with an unexpected roadblock in August – Phoenix’s abrupt departure five days before filming.
