Christine Vachon, a key figure at Killer Films and a veteran in the industry known for her work with LGBTQ-themed projects, took to Facebook to address the swirling rumors and speculation surrounding Phoenix’s exit. The actor’s sudden decision to pull out of the film, which had been planned to explore a romantic relationship between two men in the 1930s, has left the production in a state of disarray.
“Let me be clear—what happened was a nightmare,” Vachon admitted in her post. According to People, she detailed how the unexpected departure of Phoenix, who had been deeply involved in the project from the beginning, has created a whirlwind of complications for everyone involved.
The timing of Phoenix’s exit has fueled rumors suggesting that his departure was linked to the film’s LGBTQ themes and its anticipated NC-17 rating. However, Vachon firmly dismissed these speculations. “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,” she urged. Vachon highlighted that Phoenix was integral to the project from the outset, bringing the idea to Killer Films. “This was HIS project that he brought to US,” she emphasized, pointing out that Killer Films has a longstanding record of collaborating with LGBTQ actors, crew members, and directors.
This situation is particularly frustrating for Vachon given her extensive history with Haynes. Since working with him on his groundbreaking 1991 film Poison, Vachon has been a crucial player in Haynes’ career, contributing to the production of Safe (1995), Velvet Goldmine (1998), Far From Heaven (2002), I’m Not There (2007), and Carol (2015). Her involvement extends beyond Haynes’ work, with notable projects including Stonewall (1995), Kids (1995), I Shot Andy Warhol (1996), Boys Don’t Cry (1999), Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001), Camp (2003), and Party Monster (2003). Her commitment to telling diverse and compelling stories is well-established, making this current situation all the more disappointing.
Phoenix's departure reportedly occurred two weeks ago in Guadalajara, Mexico, where the film was set to shoot. The sudden exit left producers scrambling to salvage the project. With local crew members awaiting payment and the entire production hanging in the balance, the situation remains precarious.
The film was meant to star Phoenix and Danny Ramirez, known for his role in Top Gun: Maverick, as a couple navigating their intense romantic relationship in the 1930s. They were set to leave Los Angeles and travel to Mexico, a narrative that promised both emotional depth and historical resonance. Vachon was producing the film alongside Pam Koffler, with Haynes directing from a script co-written with Jon Raymond.
In an earlier interview, Haynes expressed his excitement about the project, describing it as a departure from his previous works in style, tone, and setting. “It’s a love story set in the 1930s between two men, an interracial relationship, a very unlikely pair,” he told Deadline. “The earliest ideas around the story and the setting were things Joaquin Phoenix and I began discussing a couple of years ago. We started to talk and share these conversations.”
Haynes also mentioned that he and Raymond had crafted the script collaboratively with Phoenix, highlighting their shared creative input. “We just basically created this thing together, so we’ll all be sharing story credit on it,” Haynes said. The project was envisioned as a fresh and innovative take on romance and identity, making its sudden unraveling all the more disheartening.
Meanwhile, Joaquin Phoenix is gearing up for his next major project: the press tour for Joker: Folie à Deux. This highly anticipated sequel to the 2019 film Joker is set to hit US theaters on October 4. As Phoenix prepares for this new venture, the film industry and fans alike will be watching closely, hoping for resolution and clarity regarding the future of Haynes’ troubled romance film.
The fallout from this unexpected turn of events underscores the unpredictability of the film industry and the challenges faced in bringing ambitious projects to life. As the production team works to piece together the next steps, the hope remains that they can overcome these obstacles and deliver a film that continues to push boundaries and tell meaningful stories.
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