The producer of Joaquin Phoenix’s gay romance has spoken out after the actor left the film.
Killer Films’ Christine Vachon took to Facebook on Friday to confirm that the Oscar winner had abruptly left the Todd Haynes-directed project just five days before filming was set to begin in Mexico.
“A version of this happened, it’s been a nightmare,” Vanchon wrote in a post that was later deleted, according to People.
Vachon, who has collaborated with Haynes since his 1991 debut feature, Poison, also defended Killer Films’ decision to cast the straight Phoenix in a gay role, stressing that the entire project was reportedly spearheaded by Phoenix himself.
“And PLEASE, if you’re tempted to point fingers or admonish us by saying ‘that’s what you get for hiring a straight actor,’ DON’T,” she continued. “This was HIS project, the one he brought us here, and Killer’s track record of working with LGBTQ casts, crews, and directors speaks for itself. (And for those of you who HAVE, know that you’re making a terrible situation even worse.)”
The producer of Joaquin Phoenix’s gay romance has spoken out after the actor left the film; (Phoenix in November 2023)
Killer Films’ Christine Vachon (L) took to Facebook on Friday to confirm that the Oscar winner had abruptly left the Todd Haynes (R)-directed project just five days before filming was set to begin in Mexico; (seen in 2021)
The Joker star, 49, and Top Gun: Maverick actor Danny Ramirez, 31, were set to play on-screen lovers in the 1930s in Haynes’ untitled film which would include “explicit sexual content” but losses from the movie could now top seven figures following Phoenix’s abrupt departure.
Phoenix developed the script for the detective love story with Haynes and Jon Raymond, and a source said the actor was concerned about the project amid rumors that he was uncomfortable with the film’s graphic sex scenes.
The film was to be rated NC-17 and feature a relationship that would “challenge” audiences.
Entire sets were reportedly built in Guadalajara before Phoenix left the film.
The crew reportedly speculates that Phoenix’s exit had to do with the steamy scenes, according to Variety – although other sources contradict that Phoenix initially brought the project to Haynes.
Haynes told Variety in September 2023 that Phoenix began creating the film with “shards of ideas,” adding, “Basically, it was a wonderful, organic way of creating the script. And Joaquin was taking it even further into more dangerous territory, sexually.”
The film, produced by Killer Films and backed by MK2 Film, was dependent on casting Phoenix and already had international distributors.
Sources now say Phoenix’s role cannot be restructured, the crew is out of work and stakeholders still need to pay up.
DailyMail.com has contacted representatives for Phoenix and Haynes for comment.
Phoenix will next be seen on screen in the Joker sequel, Folie à Deux, alongside Lady Gaga, scheduled for release on October 4.
Joker: Folie À Deux is the long-awaited sequel to Joker, the 2019 Academy Award-winning film that grossed over $1 billion at the global box office and remains the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time.
The new film once again stars Phoenix in his Oscar-winning dual role as Arthur Fleck/Joker, alongside Oscar winner Gaga (A Star Is Born).
Joaquin dropped out of a gay romance film just five days before filming was set to begin in Mexico, after reportedly getting cold feet about the project (pictured from November 2023)
The Joker star, 49, and Top Gun: Maverick actor Danny Ramirez, 31 (pictured last month) were set to play on-screen lovers in the 1930s in Todd Haynes’ untitled film which is said to include “explicit sexual content”.
Phoenix developed the script for the detective love story with Haynes (pictured, 2021) and Jon Raymond, and a source said the actor had concerns about the project amid rumours he was uncomfortable with the film’s graphic sex scenes.
Phoenix will next appear on screen in the Joker sequel, Folie à Deux, alongside Lady Gaga, scheduled for release on October 4.
Joker: Folie À Deux finds Arthur Fleck institutionalized in Arkham awaiting trial for his crimes as the Joker.
‘As he struggles with his dual identity, Arthur not only stumbles upon true love, but also finds the music that has always been within him,’ a press release shared.
Phillips directed the film from a script by Oscar nominee Scott Silver and Phillips, based on characters from DC.
The film was produced by Phillips, Oscar nominee Emma Tillinger Koskoff and Joseph Garner.
Lady Gaga served as a music consultant.
Joaquin and Rooney quietly welcomed their first child, River, in August 2020. Mara confirmed she was expecting a second child in February.
Mark Wahlberg turned down the chance to star in Brokeback Mountain because he was “disgusted” by its gay plot.
Wahlberg, now 53 and best known for his roles in The Departed and The Transformers franchises, could have starred in Ang Lee’s 2005 epic, which became one of the most successful LGBTQ+ films ever and won three Oscars.
However, Wahlberg admitted to feeling uncomfortable due to the “graphic and descriptive” nature of the script, which tells the story of two American cowboys turned gay lovers, with the roles ultimately played by Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal.
In a 2007 interview, Wahlberg said that the film’s opening sex scene between cowboys Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist left him convinced that the film “wasn’t his thing.”
He said: ‘I met Ang Lee on that film, read 15 pages of the script and was a little scared.
Wahlberg added: “Spit in your hand, get ready to do something.”
“It was obviously done in good taste – look how it was received.”
The National Enquirer reported at the time that Wahlberg’s Catholic priest advised him to reject the project.
Before Lee – who would go on to win the Best Director Oscar for the film – took on the project, My Own Private Idaho filmmaker Gus Van Sant was approached to direct, and he revealed that numerous celebrities had been offered the project and turned it down.
Mark Wahlberg turned down the chance to star in Brokeback Mountain because he was “disgusted” by its gay plot – photo from 2023
Wahlberg, now 53, could have starred in Ang Lee’s 2005 epic that won him three Oscars: Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal played cowboys-turned-lovers Ennis del Mar and Jack Twist.
Wahlberg is known to be a devout Catholic, and The National Enquirer reported at the time that Wahlberg’s Catholic priest advised him to turn down the project.
In 2018, he told IndieWire: “Nobody wanted to do it. I was working on it and I felt like we needed a really strong cast, like a celebrity cast. That wasn’t working. I asked the usual suspects: Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Ryan Phillippe. They all said no.
“Yes, all those young gentlemen (at the time) rejected the project, for various reasons.”
The film received critical acclaim and earned eight Oscar nominations, including Best Supporting Actor and Best Actor for Gyllenhaal and Ledger.
It won the awards for Best Director, Best Original Score and Best Adapted Screenplay.