Christine Vachon, a producer behind Todd Haynes' gay romance movie from which Joaquin Phoenix abruptly left last week, said on social media this weekend that the situation has been "a nightmare." Reports surfaced Friday that Phoenix exited the drama feature just five days before filming was set to begin in Guadalajara, Mexico. The role will not be recast. The actor's reason for the exit was unclear, and felt further confusing to those around the project as Phoenix brought the project to Haynes.
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00:00A producer at Todd Haynes' latest film is reacting to Joaquin Phoenix's abrupt exit
00:05from the project, calling it a nightmare. Reports surfaced on Friday that Phoenix
00:10exited the drama feature just five days before filming was set to begin in Guadalajara, Mexico.
00:15The role will not be recast. The actor's reason for the exit was unclear and felt further confusing
00:21to those around the project as Phoenix brought the project to Haynes. Christine Vakken, a producer
00:26at Killer Films, shared an article about the situation to Facebook over the weekend and wrote,
00:31"'A version of this did happen. It has been a nightmare.'"
00:34The producer also addressed criticism that Phoenix, who is straight,
00:37had been set to take a starring role in Haynes' film about a gay character.
00:40"'If you are tempted to finger-wag or admonish us that that's what you get for
00:44casting a straight actor, don't. This was his project that he brought to us,
00:49and Killer's record on working with LGBTQ actors, crew, directors speaks for itself.'"
00:54Haynes' movie was set to focus on an intense gay romance in the 1930s and co-stars Danny Ramirez.
01:01A source told The Hollywood Reporter that the team was devastated by Phoenix's exit
01:05and that the amount of money spent on the film was in the low seven figures.
01:09Phoenix will next be seen in Todd Phillips' Joker Folie Aux Deux on October 4.
01:14For more on this story, head to THR.com.
01:17And for the latest entertainment news and updates, keep watching The Hollywood Reporter News.