Joaquin Phoenix exits Todd Haynes’ gay drama five days before filming begins | Joaquin Phoenix

Oscar-winning actor Joaquin Phoenix has dropped out of a new gay drama directed by Todd Haynes just five days before filming was set to begin.

According to Indiewire, Variety and Deadline, the actor had “cold feet” and sources close to the filmmakers confirmed to the Guardian that the project was completely canceled and that there were no plans to recast the role.

Phoenix was set to star alongside Top Gun: Maverick actor Danny Ramirez in a 1930s romance with “explicit sexual content.” The film was to be rated NC-17 due to the sex scenes.

Last year, Haynes, while promoting his Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore drama May December, said the film “challenges you with the sexual relationship” between the two men.

“What’s remarkable is that it all started with Joaquin having ideas and thoughts and questions and images,” Haynes told Variety. “He came to me and said, ‘Does this resonate with you?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, it’s really interesting.’”

He added that it was Phoenix who “took things further, into more dangerous territory, sexually.”

The film was to be produced by longtime Haynes collaborator Christine Vachon. According to reports, crew members in Mexico are now waiting to be paid before production officially wraps.

Haynes is now reportedly focusing on an adaptation of Hernan Diaz’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Trust for HBO. The project will reunite Haynes with Kate Winslet, who previously starred in his 2011 miniseries adaptation of Mildred Pierce.

Phoenix, last seen in Ridley Scott’s Napoleon, recently wrapped another film with Beau Is Afraid director Ari Aster, titled Eddington alongside Emma Stone. His highly anticipated Joker sequel is set to premiere at the Venice Film Festival next month.

The Guardian has contacted representatives for Haynes, Vachon and Phoenix for comment.