Summary
Joaquin Phoenix’s last-minute dropping out from a major film sparks backlash and calls for lawsuits. Phoenix was originally slated to be part of an untitled gay romance film fromCaroldirector Todd Haynes, which had been close to filming. It was announced that Phoenix had decided todrop out of the project due to getting “cold feet.“His quitting came only five days before the movie was slated to begin principal photography in Mexico, leaving the movie without a lead actor.
PerThe Hollywood Reporter, producers are “outraged” by Phoenix’s decision, and wonder if legal action should ensue. According to some sources,Phoenix’s decision may open him up to legal action, due to the breach of either a verbal or written contract to appear in the film. One studio executive said that there has been “a huge amount of outrage” after Phoenix’s decision to depart from the Haynes film. An anonymous source also indicated that this is somewhat of a pattern for Phoenix, saying thathe threatened to leaveNapoleonunless rewrites were carried out.
The Full Potential Ramifications For Phoenix Explained
This Could Impact Phoenix’s Career
There is a precedent for actors being penalized for leaving films at the last minute.Kim Basinger, for example, was brought to court in 1993after allegedly breaching a verbal contract that stipulated that she would star in Main Line Picture’sBoxing Helena. Though the original $8.92 million in damages was overturned, Basinger ended up settling with Main Line for $3.8 million. Similarly, Bruce Willis' departure from the never-finished Disney filmBroadway Brawlerleft him obligated to make three films with Disney to make peace.
His last-minute departure is sure to put a sour taste in the mouths of a number of Hollywood producers and directors, who may hesitate to work with the Oscar winner in the future.
While the Willis-type agreement would likely not work in the case of the Haynes film, since it is not attached to a studio as big as Disney, pursuing legal action against Phoenix is still a possibility for the actor. To make matters worse, there has even been sometalk among Hollywood producers of blackballing Phoenixfrom future Hollywood productions, quashing his future career. At the same time, producers have admitted that this choice is idealistic and likely not realistic for the major actor. As it stands, Phoenix will have a likely hit with theupcomingJoker: Folie A Deux.
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Most likely, any repercussions for Phoenix would involve some kind of monetary settlement. A talent agent who is not involved in the Haynes project noted that"as long as they threaten, he’ll settle. It’s nothing to him.“While this is just one opinion, this kind of rhetoric indicates thatPhoenix’s overall career will be safe after the decision. Even so, his last-minute departure is sure to put a sour taste in the mouths of a number of Hollywood producers and directors, who may hesitate to work with the Oscar winner in the future.
