Joaquin Phoenix’s sudden decision to exit a film has resulted in conflict. The actor was set to star in a romantic drama directed by Todd Haynes and made headlines when he withdrew just days before filming was scheduled to begin. Although Phoenix addressed his decision following criticism from the film’s producers, the move caused significant disruption. Amid continued uncertainty, Phoenix's prospective co-star, Danny Ramirez, shared his take on the matter and an update on the situation.
The news was apparently disappointing for the Top Gun: Maverick star, who had been lined up to co-lead the film alongside Joaquin Phoenix. The Black Mirror alum shared his thoughts during a recent red-carpet interview with Variety, during which he reflected on missing the chance to work with such a prominent figure in Hollywood. Despite that, Ramirez did share a brighter take on the situation:
Well, I mean, it’s definitely a very complicated situation. But I mean, just the chance to throw down with those creatives in the room, like the audition process was extensive. Even what I walked away with that was just a full artistic validation of throwing down opposite of [Phoenix] in this chemistry read and going like — it was a very intense dramatic scene. There was a moment that I was like, ‘Oh, I’ve arrived as a performer.’ It felt like we were battling.
Danny Ramirez, though clearly disappointed, seems to value the benefits of the experience and appears to have taken a lot from the audition process. It's fair to say that not too many people have the opportunity to act off someone of the Gladiator alum's caliber. The same goes for working under the direction of someone as talented as Todd Haynes, whose credits include Far from Heaven and May December.
Of course, there's still the matter of whether the movie might actually still happen. During his interview, the No Exit star acknowledged the various unknown variables that still exist when it comes to the project. However, it sounds like he's still optimistic about Todd Haynes' movie coming to fruition:
I’m still excited obviously working with Todd. … I’ve been shifting gears to different projects, so the most recent update is hopefully, but who knows? It’s just a complicated process.
The aftermath of Joaquin Phoenix's decision continues to have side effects. After being asked about it during a recent press conference, the Oscar winner declined to comment as the other parties involved were not able to explain their sides of the situation. Producer Christine Vachon, all the while, hasn't minced words. She even described the waste of Todd Haynes' time as the most “criminal” aspect of the situation.
Despite the setback, Danny Ramirez is determined to keep pushing forward in his career. While recalling the moment he heard the news, he said:
I was finishing The Last of Us… It’s definitely disappointing, because it’s just like whenever you have the chance to throw down with someone of that caliber – obviously, Todd as a director and Joaquin. … Obviously, there’s a lot more people that have been affected in different ways. But, yeah, if anything, it just gave me more inspiration to keep driving, keep pushing and knowing that I’m on the right path and approaching the work the right way. And so that’s what I’m excited about.
There’s been no official update from Todd Haynes or the studio regarding the next steps for the project or who might replace Joaquin Phoenix in the lead role. Yet this setback doesn't seem to have slowed Ramirez down, and he is moving on to new roles. He's set to take on a major role as the new Falcon in the upcoming Captain America: Brave New World. As alluded to, he'll also appear on the second season of HBO's The Last of Us. We'll have to wait and see what else the future holds for Ramirez as well as Haynes' movie.
In the meantime, be sure to check out our schedule of 2025 movie releases to see what exciting new films are headed to a theater near you.
