Joaquin Phoenix has dropped out of his upcoming gay romance just days before filming was due to begin in Mexico, it has been claimed.
The 49-year-old – who is gearing up for the release of Joker: Folie à Deux – jumped on board the untitled movie last year.
The ‘detective love story’ was thought to be set in LA in the 1930s with Todd Haynes serving as director and Danny Ramirez later joining the cast as Joaquin’s love interest.
However, it has been thrown into chaos amid claims that the lead star walked out.
An insider told Variety that he got ‘cold feet’, despite having developed the screenplay with the filmmaker and writer Jon Raymond.
According to the outlet, the project – which doesn’t presently have a title – hinged on Joaquin’s casting, and his character cannot be ‘recast’.
The cast and crew are reportedly now out of work and Metro.co.uk understands that the movie will ‘not be going forward’ anymore.
Todd, who was behind May December, Carol and Dark Waters, announced his plans at Cannes Film Festival last year.
At the time, he explained that he had developed the script with Joaquin after the Oscar-winner brought him ‘some thoughts and ideas.’
‘We basically wrote with him as a story writer,’ he told IndieWire, adding that the pair share the credits to the story with Jon.
‘We hope to be shooting it beginning early next year,’ he said. ‘It’s a gay love story set in 1930s LA.’
‘Basically it was just this wonderful, organic way to create the script,’ he also added to Variety. ‘And Joaquin was pushing it further into more dangerous territory, sexually.’
Neither have spoken publicly over the exit claims.
Joaquin is set to return to the big screen in the eagerly-anticipated sequel to 2019’s Joker, alongside Zazie Beatz and newcomer Lady Gaga – who is starring as Harley Quinn.
Folie à Deux will be premiering in cinemas on October 4 and has been described as a jukebox musical, complete with at least 15 cover songs.
Much of the plot has been kept under wraps, but the trailer saw the close bond between the superhero villain and Harley Quinn develop.
Metro.co.uk has contacted reps for Joaquin and Todd for a comment.
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