Joaquin Phoenix Leaves Gay Romance Movie High and Dry

People are waiting to be paid after Joaquin Phoenix dropped out of Todd Haynes’ untitled gay romance film just five days before the film was supposed to shoot in Mexico, according to IndieWire. Phoenix reportedly left the project while still in Los Angeles, even though a crew had already been assembled for the shoot in Guadalajara.

Phoenix had helped develop the script with Jon Raymond and Haynes, who would helm the project as a follow-up to the well-received May/December last year. According to IndieWire, Phoenix dropped out of the project in July, and since then the film has been put on hold. To make matters worse, Haynes had previously told the site that Phoenix was responsible for the film’s momentum—its financing was strongly dependent on his casting, as the film is likely to be rated NC-17.

Haynes was determined to include explicit sex scenes, but told the site that Phoenix encouraged him to push even further. He praised Phoenix’s “desire to push through barriers and to really get into the uncomfortable places about this relationship,” adding, “The whole experience was prompted by Joaquin.” But something clearly changed for the actor.

Read more at The Daily Beast.