Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix's sudden departure from filmmaker Todd Haynes' upcoming film has led to the project's cancellation.

According to American news outlet Variety, Phoenix dropped out of the gay drama film, about two men in love and fleeing to Mexico, just five days before filming was set to begin in Guadalajara.

A source close to the production told the outlet that the&nbsp;Joker&nbsp;actor got "cold feet" over the project, for which he had developed the screenplay with Haynes and Jon Raymond.

Phoenix was scheduled to co-star with Top Gun: Maverick&nbsp;actor Danny Ramirez in the 1930s-set love story featuring "explicit sexual content." The film was intended to receive an NC-17 rating due to its graphic sex scenes.

The role will not be recast for the movie.

During the press tour for his 2023 Netflix film May December, director Todd Haynes told IndieWire that Phoenix was the driving force behind the project.

"The whole experience was prompted by Joaquin. It was prompted by his daring, his desire to push through barriers and to really get into the uncomfortable places about this relationship. And yet it felt like a very organic process," the filmmaker had said.

Phoenix, 49, will next feature in Joker: Folie a Deux, the sequel to his 2019 movie Joker, which earned him a maiden Oscar trophy for best actor.

Also starring Lady Gaga, the movie is directed by Todd Phillips and will be released worldwide in October this year.&nbsp; 
 
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix's sudden departure from filmmaker Todd Haynes' upcoming film has led to the project's cancellation. According to American news outlet Variety, Phoenix dropped out of the gay drama film, about two men in love and fleeing to Mexico, just five days before filming was set to begin in Guadalajara.

Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix's sudden departure from filmmaker Todd Haynes' upcoming film has led to the project's cancellation. According to American news outlet Variety, Phoenix dropped out of the gay drama film, about two men in love and fleeing to Mexico, just five days before filming was set to begin in Guadalajara. A source close to the production told the outlet that the Joker actor got "cold feet" over the project, for which he had developed the screenplay with Haynes and Jon Raymond. Phoenix was scheduled to co-star with Top Gun: Maverick actor Danny Ramirez in the 1930s-set love story featuring "explicit sexual content." The film was intended to receive an NC-17 rating due to its graphic sex scenes. The role will not be recast for the movie. During the press tour for his 2023 Netflix film May December, director Todd Haynes told IndieWire that Phoenix was the driving force behind the project. "The whole experience was prompted by Joaquin. It was prompted by his daring, his desire to push through barriers and to really get into the uncomfortable places about this relationship. And yet it felt like a very organic process," the filmmaker had said. Phoenix, 49, will next feature in Joker: Folie a Deux, the sequel to his 2019 movie Joker, which earned him a maiden Oscar trophy for best actor. Also starring Lady Gaga, the movie is directed by Todd Phillips and will be released worldwide in October this year. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Joaquin Phoenix's steps out of Todd Haynes' gay romance movie

Todd Haynes is back at the Cannes Film Festival, this time with his latest sex scandal drama, May December. The movie features&nbsp;Hollywood divas Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore, who have always been lauded for their acting prowess. On Saturday, the movie premiere got delayed due to Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, which premiered before Todd's film.

The movie, which premiered at the Grand Theatre Lumière, got an outstanding reaction from the audience. Upon its conclusion, the movie received a six-minute standing ovation and a huge round of applause.

After the overwhelming response, Haynes addressed the audience present at the Lumière theatres and said: "The making of this film was such a joy. We threw this film together incredibly quickly,” said Haynes before&nbsp;adding that they shot for only 23 days in Savannah, Georgia. “It took everybody’s creative participation to make it possible.”

<nav data-dropdown="">Haynes walked the red carpet with his entire movie team&nbsp;</nav>

<h3>More about the movie&nbsp;</h3>

Helmed by Todd Haynes with a screenplay by Samy Burch, the movie stars Portman as Elizabeth, an actor who heads to Savannah to study the lives of Gracie (Moore) and Joe ( Charles Melton). Years prior, Gracie and Joe's romance sparked a national controversy due to their huge age gap.

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Scenes from Todd Haynes’ ‘May December’ premiere with Natalie Portman + Julianne Moore who were both equally amazing. Charles Melton was a standout and the score will shake your core with this tabloid campy drama that surprisingly had a bit of humor to it. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MayDecember?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MayDecember</a>… <a href="https://t.co/mFXPZvPzmw">pic.twitter.com/mFXPZvPzmw</a>
— Nikki Fowler (@NikkiFowler28) <a href="https://twitter.com/NikkiFowler28/status/1660078594083651584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/fast-x-box-office-vin-diesel-movie-targets-60-million-mark-at-domestic-market-594657">Fast X Box Office: Vin Diesel's movie targets $60 million mark at domestic market</a>

<h3>Haynes and Cannes&nbsp;</h3>

The ace director has a long-standing relationship with Cannes. For the unversed, he made his debut at the prestigious film festival in 1998 with Velvet Goldmine, which won a prize for best artistic contribution. A decade later, he returned to the festival in 2015 with his movie Carol, which received a 10-minute standing ovation and the best actress prize for Rooney Mara. The last film that was in the competition was his 2018's Wonderstruck.

Haynes'&nbsp;2021 documentary Velvet Underground was also screened at the festival.

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Todd Haynes is back at the Cannes Film Festival, this time with his latest sex scandal drama, May December. The movie features Hollywood divas Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore, who have always been lauded for their acting prowess.

Todd Haynes is back at the Cannes Film Festival, this time with his latest sex scandal drama, May December. The movie features Hollywood divas Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore, who have always been lauded for their acting prowess. On Saturday, the movie premiere got delayed due to Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, which premiered before Todd's film. The movie, which premiered at the Grand Theatre Lumière, got an outstanding reaction from the audience. Upon its conclusion, the movie received a six-minute standing ovation and a huge round of applause. After the overwhelming response, Haynes addressed the audience present at the Lumière theatres and said: "The making of this film was such a joy. We threw this film together incredibly quickly,” said Haynes before adding that they shot for only 23 days in Savannah, Georgia. “It took everybody’s creative participation to make it possible.” Haynes walked the red carpet with his entire movie team More about the movie Helmed by Todd Haynes with a screenplay by Samy Burch, the movie stars Portman as Elizabeth, an actor who heads to Savannah to study the lives of Gracie (Moore) and Joe ( Charles Melton). Years prior, Gracie and Joe's romance sparked a national controversy due to their huge age gap. Scenes from Todd Haynes’ ‘May December’ premiere with Natalie Portman + Julianne Moore who were both equally amazing. Charles Melton was a standout and the score will shake your core with this tabloid campy drama that surprisingly had a bit of humor to it. #MayDecember… pic.twitter.com/mFXPZvPzmw — Nikki Fowler (@NikkiFowler28) May 21, 2023 × Fast X Box Office: Vin Diesel's movie targets $60 million mark at domestic market Haynes and Cannes The ace director has a long-standing relationship with Cannes. For the unversed, he made his debut at the prestigious film festival in 1998 with Velvet Goldmine, which won a prize for best artistic contribution. A decade later, he returned to the festival in 2015 with his movie Carol, which received a 10-minute standing ovation and the best actress prize for Rooney Mara. The last film that was in the competition was his 2018's Wonderstruck. Haynes' 2021 documentary Velvet Underground was also screened at the festival. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Todd Haynes' May December gets six-minute standing ovation at Cannes premiere

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Joaquin Phoenix's steps out of Todd Haynes' gay romance movie

Todd Haynes' May December gets six-minute standing ovation at Cannes premiere