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In a surprising twist, just as we were all gearing up for Todd Haynes’ next daring cinematic venture—a 1930s gay romance that promised to be as provocative as it was poignant—Joaquin Phoenix has abruptly exited the project. This shocking news comes from IndieWire mere days before filming was set to begin in Guadalajara, Mexico, leaving the entire production in a precarious state.
Phoenix, who was not only the film’s star but also deeply involved in developing its story, had been pushing Haynes to explore even more explicit and challenging themes. The film was set to carry an NC-17 rating, largely due to its explicit portrayal of the central romance between Phoenix’s character and that of Danny Ramirez, the rising star from Top Gun: Maverick.
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Haynes had been full of praise for Phoenix’s commitment to pushing boundaries, noting that it was Phoenix who encouraged him to delve deeper into the “dangerous territory” of their narrative. It’s a real blow, not just to the film’s progress but to those of us eagerly awaiting another groundbreaking exploration of queer love from a director who has never shied away from the complex intersections of identity and desire.
As of now, the future of the project remains uncertain. With Phoenix’s departure, the film has lost not just its lead but also much of its financial backing—secured largely on the strength of Phoenix’s involvement. While Haynes shifts his focus to a new project with Kate Winslet for HBO, there’s no word yet on whether the gay romance will be revived with a new lead or shelved indefinitely.
For those of us who have followed Haynes from Poison to Carol, this was set to be another landmark in queer cinema, and the disappointment is palpable. Here’s hoping this isn’t the last we hear of this intriguing project, even if it now faces an uphill battle .
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