Joaquin Phoenix Breaks Silence After Quitting Movie 5 Days Before Filming & Sparking Hollywood Outrage
Joaquin Phoenix finally addresses his decision to drop out of a movie at the last minute, which prompted angry responses from Hollywood. Hailing from May December (2023) director Todd Haynes and writer Jon Raymond, the untitled gay romance movie in question was expected to feature Phoenix in the lead role. The actor dropped out of the project only days before filming was set to start in Guadalajara, Mexico, however, after getting “cold feet,” which put the film on hold, costing millions. The decision was met with outrage on social media and in Hollywood.
While attending the Venice Film Festival press event for Joker: Folie à Deux, Phoenix is asked about why he decided to leave the Haynes film by journalist Ben Dalton from Screen International. The actor’s response is essentially a non-comment, as he reveals it wouldn’t be fair to the other parties involved who wouldn’t be able to share their own thoughts. Check out Phoenix’s comment (via IndieWire) below:
“If I do, I’ll 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. I am not sure how that would be helpful. I don’t think I will.”
What Joaquin Phoenix’s Statement Means For His Hollywood Situation
Phoenix was not only set to star in the NC-17 gay romance film, he was also developing it with Haynes. The untitled project had cast Danny Ramirez to star opposite Phoenix as his character’s lover. Phoenix’s decision to leave the film was especially controversial because he did it so close to the filming start date. As the principal star, the film needed Phoenix to succeed, and his departure essentially left everybody in the lurch, including the crew, who are now out of work.
Ramirez will be best known to many audiences for his role as Lieutenant Mickey “Fanboy” Garcia in the
cast of
Top Gun: Maverick
(2022).
A report following the decision from THR revealed that Phoenix’s last-minute decision could be considered a breach of his written or verbal contract to appear in the film, opening him up to legal action. The report also states that there was “a huge amount of outrage” from those in Hollywood about the decision. Furthermore, THR‘s report suggests that this is a pattern for Phoenix, who allegedly threatened to leave Ridley Scott’s Napoleon unless the script underwent rewrites. Phoenix’s latest comment is unlikely to mend any bridges, but it’s probably the safest option given the controversy surrounding him.
Our Take On Phoenix’s Current Controversy
What Will Happen To The Haynes Film?
The Phoenix/ Haynes situation is still a hot topic at the moment, and it’s unlikely that any explanation from Phoenix would have fixed the situation. In fact, Phoenix’s decision to not dominate the narrative with his own perspective is a solid course of action, and it’s likely a response that was prepared ahead of time in anticipation of such a question. It’s unclear what will happen to the Haynes film, but for the moment it’s looking dead in the water. More information about the Phoenix controversy will probably emerge after the situation has further settled.
Source: IndieWire
