Move has prompted talk of legal action

Joaquin Phoenix’s abrupt departure from a gay romance film has reportedly sparked “huge outrage” in Hollywood and could lead to legal action.

The Joker star was set to lead the untitled detective love story – that he had taken to director Todd Haynes in the first place – but five days before production was scheduled to begin, he made the last-minute decision to drop out of the film after getting “cold feet”, a source told Variety.

Entire sets had been built in Guadalajara, Mexico, where shooting had been due to take place. Phoenix abandoned the project in early July just days before the scheduled shoot, leaving cast and crew in the lurch.

Now, reports are emerging that legal action could ensue, after the decision sparked backlash from industry veterans.

“There’s been a huge amount of outrage,” one studio executive told The Hollywood Reporter. The publication cited sources suggesting the decision could lead to legal action.

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Produced by Killer Films and backed by sales agent MK2 Film, Phoenix’s movie had already been sold to international distributors. Variety further reports that the actor’s role cannot be recast, leaving the crew out of work and investors unpaid, and meaning that losses could surpass seven figures.

    • reddig33@lemmy.worldEnglish
      32·
      3 months ago

      It’s related to financing. The funding was contractually tied to having Phoenix in the role. So if they can find another actor with enough pull, maybe they can recast?

      Phoenix was also a co-writer, so who knows what happens next.

      You have to wonder what really went down. Also this dude is always pulling stunts for publicity so who knows.

    • xor@infosec.pubEnglish
      311·
      3 months ago

      means: they plan on making more money suing him than they would with the film.

    • One_Honest_Dude@lemmy.worldEnglish
      18·
      3 months ago

      My guess is they used his involvement to sell it to distributors. It says they have already made deals for international markets, likely getting more than they would have with a different actor.

    • li10English
      8·
      3 months ago

      I kinda get that. If they have no big name actor the movie is already dead, which is the unfortunate reality for a lot of movies these days.

      Sounds like he was the guy pushing for the movie to be made in the first place as well, so maybe there’s no interest from other names to replace him.