Todd Haynes' queer drama may not be the first project Joaquin Phoenix has walked out of at the last minute. In fact, The Hollywood Reporter suggests he threatened to do so even on Ridley Scott's period drama Napoleon last year, in which he played the titular role. (Also Read – Joaquin Phoenix abruptly steps out of gay romance film leaving it as good as dead: Here's why ) Joaquin's demand on Napoleon The report states, “The actor is indeed known to get cold feet ahead of filming on various projects.
Two sources tell THR that he threatened to leave Ridley Scott’s Napoleon unless his The Master filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson was brought in to do rewrites. Placated, he stayed aboard the project, and it arrived in theatres late last year.” Written by David Scarpa and directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Ridley Scott, Napoleon starred Joaquin as the French ruler and Vanessa Kirby as his wife Josephine.
It earned $221 million worldwide and fetched 3 Oscar nominations in technical categories. Joaquin's recent exit Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix's sudden departure from Todd Haynes' upcoming film has led to the project's cancellation. Phoenix dropped out of the queer drama film, about two men in love and fleeing to Mexico, just five days before filming was set to begin in Guadalajara.
The Joker actor reportedly got "cold feet" over the project, for which he had developed the screenplay with Todd and Jon Raymond. Joaquin was scheduled to co-star with Top Gun: Maverick actor.