For the first time, renowned filmmaker Todd Haynes has opened up about the sudden collapse of his Joaquin Phoenix-starring gay romance film, merely days before the planned start of production.
During a press conference at the Marrakech Film Festival, Haynes addressed the project’s demise. Initially, the conference moderator indicated that the director would refrain from discussing the topic, but Haynes opted to provide a short comment on the matter.
The summer’s events were challenging, admitted Haynes. However, he remained hopeful, saying, “The film itself and the script itself may resurrect in a different form someday.”
The plot of the doomed love story reportedly revolved around a corrupt police officer and his younger lover escaping 1930s Los Angeles for Mexico. Joaquin Phoenix was not only set to star opposite Danny Ramirez but was also pivotal in the project’s conception. He brought the idea to Christine Vachon at Killer Films and developed the screenplay with Haynes and Jon Raymond.
Inside sources revealed to Variety that the leading actor developed “cold feet”, potentially due to the explicit sexual nature of the love scenes. This last-minute decision to exit the film came despite the completion of full sets in Guadalajara.
While engaged in a retrospective conversation at the Marrakech Film Festival on Friday, Haynes neither confirmed nor denied these speculations.
Since the project’s collapse in August, Joaquin Phoenix has remained tight-lipped, choosing not to comment during a Venice press conference. He justified his silence by expressing that it wouldn’t be “helpful” or “right” since the other creatives involved in the project were not present to share their perspectives. In contrast, producer Christine Vachon was more forthcoming when discussing the failed project from San Sebastián.
Vachon expressed deep regret over the situation, lamenting the loss of a potential Todd Haynes film. “The idea that [Todd’s] time was wasted and that a movie is not a result of those years of working closely with Joaquin… That is the tragedy to me,” Vachon stated.
Haynes is set to serve as the jury president at the upcoming 75th Berlin International Film Festival in February. Meanwhile, the Marrakech Film Festival is scheduled to conclude tomorrow.
FAQs
Q: Who is Todd Haynes?
A: Todd Haynes is a renowned filmmaker known for his unique cinematic style and narratives.
Q: What was the project about?
A: The project was a gay romance featuring a corrupt cop and his younger lover escaping 1930s Los Angeles for Mexico. Joaquin Phoenix was set to star in the film.
Q: Why did the project fall apart?
A: Sources reveal that Phoenix developed “cold feet”, potentially due to the explicit sexual nature of the love scenes, leading to his last-minute exit from the film.
Q: What is next for Todd Haynes?
A: Todd Haynes is set to serve as the jury president at the upcoming 75th Berlin International Film Festival in February.
Credit: variety.com
