Joaquin Phoenix is one of the most interesting actors to watch on screen and one that does not conform to the conventional route taken by most actors. He is mostly driven by the roles he is going to play and does not care about the fame and fandom that come with being a celebrity. He has shown his incredible versatility in various intriguing dramas and won an Oscar for 2019’s Joker.
Phoenix is set to return in the sequel of the 2019 film Joker: Folie à Deux this October. Additionally, he was attached to star in Todd Haynes’ queer romance film alongside Danny Ramirez. However, he backed out of the project at the last minute and now, reports have started circulating about his alleged irresponsible behavior from Phoenix on the set of Napoleon.
Joaquin Phoenix Reportedly Threatened To Quit Napoleon If Rewrites Weren’t Done
Joaquin Phoenix has worked with some of the most brilliant minds in the industry and has always maintained a very respectful reputation in the industry. Being known for going method for his roles, the actor has always impressed audiences with his intense performances. However, Phoenix’s exit has reportedly sparked outrage in the industry as well as fans.
The actor was set to star in Todd Haynes’ upcoming queer romance and shockingly, he backed out of the film 5 days before production. The reason for his departure is unknown but it has not gone down well with studio execs. One studio exec told The Hollywood Reporter (THR) that “there’s been a huge amount of outrage” in the industry at what Pheonix’s sudden exit.
This incident has caused various sources to come up with other stories about the Joker star’s alleged reckless behavior. Two sources told THR that Phoenix reportedly threatened to leave Ridley Scott’s Napoleon until Paul Thomas Anderson came in and made a rewrite to the script. The two have previously worked on The Master and Inherent Vice.
There has been a significant negative press on Phoenix due to his recent action. Fans were also not happy with these concerning reports about the actor’s alleged hasty actions. Some criticized him for acting like a diva and pointed out that Napoleon was bad despite the rewrites. Here are some of the reactions on X,
Bro seems like a diva. Got a whole movie cancelled last minute recently too.
— Eddie (@Health00810) August 14, 2024
Man…ever since he won best actor he's been quite the diva.
— Hollywood After Dark (@HWADPodcast) August 14, 2024
he does a lot of leaving so it seems
— 💀 (@clumsystiggy) August 14, 2024
And it was still awful!
— Captain Crash (@MrCaptainCrash) August 14, 2024
I'm not sure if that helped much. But you also have to wonder how bad the script was before, if the movie still received mixed reviews after the rewrites.
— OurMovieGuide (@OurMovieGuide) August 14, 2024
It is unfortunate to see so much negativity around Phoenix, which may affect Joker 2 and people’s desire to see it. The actor may also be bombarded by the media about these two reports during promotion and it indeed be quite a mess. It remains to be seen how Phoenix explains his departure and the new report regarding Napoleon.
Producer Addresses Joaquin Phoenix’s Sudden Exit From Todd Haynes’ Film
Joaquin Phoenix and Todd Haynes were set to start production on their queer romance film which was also going to star Danny Ramirez. However, the actor made an unexpected exit mere 5 days before the shoot and this has caused an outrage on social media. The film’s producer Christine Vachon addressed the news while also calling out naysayers in a since deleted Facebook post.
The producer confirmed the reports and called Phoenix’s exit a terrible nightmare. She also called out the naysayers who were mocking the project for casting straight actors and stated that Phoenix had brought the project to her. Vachon requested fans to not make the situation worse by spreading negativity. The producer wrote (via X),
A version of this did happen. It has been a nightmare. If you are tempted to finger wag or admonish us that ‘that’s what you get for casting a straight actor’ — DON’T. This was HIS project that he brought to US — and Killer’s record on working with LGBTQ actors/crew/directors speaks for itself. (and for those of you who HAVE — know that you are making a terrible situation even worse).
It is unknown whether the film has found a replacement for Phoenix or even postponed. Vachon and her team have to find someone else for the project if they are to continue with it. On the other hand, Phoenix is gearing up for the release of Joker 2 and is also shooting Ari Aster’s Eddington. Fans can watch Phoenix’s Napoleon on Apple TV+.
