HBO; Jose Oliva/Europa Press via Getty Images
Joaquin Phoenix is one of the biggest movie stars in Hollywood, already having earned an Academy Award and three more nominations throughout his career... but he's also causing some problems after "cold feet" reportedly caused him to drop out of Todd Hayne's upcoming, still untitled film, an intense gay love story that Phoenix had pitched.
According to reports, Phoenix got "cold feet" about the project just five days before it was supposed to start filming.
The project, which again, Phoenix himself brought to Haynes, was about a detective played by Phoenix and his love affair with a younger man set to be played by Danny Ramirez. Phoenix had pushed for the film to have an NC-17 rating.
"The next film is a feature that's an original script that I developed with Joaquin Phoenix based on some thoughts and ideas he brought to me," Haynes told Indie Wire last year. "We basically wrote with him as a story writer. Me and Jon Raymond and Joaquin share the story credit. We hope to be shooting it beginning early next year [2024]. It's a gay love story set in 1930s LA."
Variety reported that speculation among the crew was that Phoenix left because of the graphic nature of the sex scenes, but others said that was confusing, as Phoenix pitched the project to Haynes and was the one pushing him to go farther with it.
There's some talk about replacing Phoenix, although it may not be possible as the story is also his. But there is still slim hope that this project could see the light of day...
With that being said, here are 10 actors we think could do a standup job should the role be up for grabs!
Pedro Pascal
HBO
He is the Internet's Daddy after all! Rumors say that Pascal's name has been thrown out as a possibility to replace Phoenix, but as he has Fantastic Four and The Mandalorian still to shoot this year, it's doubtful he has the time.
Murray Bartlett
HBO
Murray Bartlett is, in a lot of ways, the gay Joaquin Phoenix. He's a celebrated and decorated actor who looks great in facial hair and is able to thrive in all sorts of complicated roles. He'd actually be perfect for this.
Hugh Jackman
20th Century Fox
Jackman is another respected actor of a certain age who perfectly fits the Daddy archetype that it seems like this movie is going for. Maybe he can move away from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and back into critically-acclaimed roles with this Todd Haynes film!
Colman Domingo
A24/HBO
Colman Domingo, the man that you are! Domingo is a true movie star, and as a gay actor, he could bring some realness to the role that someone like Phoenix may not. We also doubt he would back out if things got too gay.
Daniel Craig
Sony Pictures/MGM Studios
Craig is the star of Luca Guadagnino's upcoming drama Queer, which centers around an American expat named William Lee (Craig) who is in Mexico City when he meets a younger man and falls in love. It's a similar story to Haynes' film, so Craig might be perfect!
Matt Bomer
HBO
Bomer is perfect as an older, by-the-books, man's man in Fellow Travelers, and he'd be perfect doing a similar thing here. Plus, after those incredible Fellow Travelers sex scenes, we'd love to see him do an NC-17 movie!
Ricky Martin
Apple TV+
It doesn't really get much sexier than Martin. He's also a very talented actor, and a true Daddy, so we think this is a role he could nail!
Luke Evans
Hulu
Evans is the youngest actor on this list (just by a bit!) but he still brings the necessary older man energy that this role calls for. He's been nailing gay roles recently in movies like Our Son and Good Grief, so we'd love to see him in a Todd Haynes flick!
Mads Mikkelsen
Warner Bros.
Mikkelsen is a brilliant actor, and while he's not gay, we know he can play complicated gay characters ala Hannibal Lector in Hannibal. We'd love to see him return to gay roles, and maybe go after an Oscar in this movie.
Richard Armitage
Netflix
Armitage is dignified, acclaimed, gay, and handsome. He'd make for a great detective falling for a younger man, and we'd love to see him without his shirt on!
