Nearly a month after Joaquin Phoenix abruptly exited director Todd Haynes’ untitled gay romance movie five days before it was expected to begin shooting in Guadalajara, Mexico, the Joker: Folie à Deux actor still refuses to explain why. Phoenix dropped out of the project while still in Los Angeles, leaving the cast and crew scratching their heads south of the border. It’s been speculated that he got “cold feet” about the movie, as it was said to be pushing the boundaries of an NC-17 rating, which would have meant Phoenix, a straight man, filming sex scenes that were perhaps beyond his comfort zone.
Appearing at a press conference today ahead of the premiere of Joker: Folie à Deux at the 81st Venice International Film Festival (via Kyle Buchanan on X), Phoenix was directly asked why he exited Todd Haynes film. Instead of giving a straightforward answer, the Academy Award-winning actor said that he didn’t feel it “would be right” to talk about that particular subject because his response would be one-sided.
It would just be sharing my opinion and the other creatives aren’t here to share their piece. It doesn’t feel like that would be right. I don’t think that would be helpful so I just don’t think I will. Thank you.
While it’s understandable that Phoenix didn’t necessarily want to get into specifics, seeing as how he was in Venice to talk about Joker: Folie à Deux alongside director Todd Phillips and his co-star, Lady Gaga, an apology would have been nice. Production on the film came to a halt following his exit despite producers desperately trying to find a way forward. The local crew in Mexico who had already built sets for the feature were also left out of work, and were still expecting payment for services rendered. It’s unclear at this point if they ever received their money.
Joaquin Phoenix’s Abrupt Exit ‘Has Been a Nightmare’
Produced by Killer Films, Phoenix was expected to star in Haynes’ film along with Top Gun: Maverick star Danny Ramirez, who previously teased the untitled movie as a “love story between two men set in the ’30s that has explicit sexual content.” It’s that content that led many to speculate the reasoning behind Phoenix’s exit, which is definitely strange given the fact that the movie was his idea in the first place, and he worked closely with the director to develop the script and its NC-17 elements.
Following Phoenix’s unexpected departure from the movie, Killer Films’ founder Christine Vachon took to Facebook to express her frustrations with his decision, reiterating the fact that it was Phoenix’s idea in the first place, and that – despite casting a straight actor in a gay role – they have a proven track record in the LGBTQ+ community.
“It has been a nightmare. If I haven’t been in touch or returned your call — this is why. And PLEASE — if you are tempted to finger wag or admonish us that ‘that’s what you get for casting a straight actor’ — DON’T. This was HIS project that he brought to US – and Killer’s record on working with LGBTQ actors/crew/directors speaks for itself. (and for those of you who HAVE — know that you are making a terrible situation even worse).”
For now, Phoenix’s reasons for the departure are his own, but hopefully, he eventually gets around to explaining himself so that there can be at least some closure to the situation. There’s little chance that his choice affects the overall box office performance of Joker: Folie à Deux, which premieres today in Venice and hits theaters in North America on October 4. Perhaps by then Haynes and Killer Films will get an apology.