While 2024 has been filled with entertainment scandals, the most notable so far is Joaquin Phoenix‘s sudden departure from Todd Haynes‘ upcoming gay romance movie just days before filming was set to begin.
Variety broke the news, reporting that Phoenix walked away from the project due to reservations about performing highly intimate scenes with his then co-star, Danny Ramirez. His decision has sparked significant backlash on social media, as millions of dollars were already invested in the picture, and Joaquin himself had initially pushed for its controversial direction.
The title’s future now hangs in the balance, with reports indicating that Haynes is in the final stages of deciding whether to scrap the project entirely or recast with another A-list star to fill Phoenix’s shoes. Here are all the latest rumors surrounding the potential replacement.
Pedro Pascal considered as Joaquin Phoenix’s replacement
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the name that has been on Todd Haynes’ mind recently is none other than Pedro Pascal. He seems like an ideal choice, given his experience playing Ethan Hawke’s love interest in Almodóvar’s 2023 short film “Strange Way of Life,” and his comfort with intimate scenes.
Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal in “Strange Way of Life”. (Source: IMDb)
However, not everyone on the production team is on board with this idea. One concern is that Pascal, like Danny Ramirez, is Latino, which conflicts with the original concept of the lead characters being from different nationalities.
Ultimately, Pascal was ruled out due to his packed schedule. Haynes needs an A-list actor ready to start filming immediately, but Pascal’s commitments, including eleven upcoming projects, will keep him busy until at least the end of 2026.
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As the situation unfolds, it is increasingly likely that the producers of Haynes’ film may consider legal action against Phoenix to recover some of the millions already spent. We will keep you updated on the developments.
