In August, Joaquin Phoenix made headlines for dropping out of a movie at the last second. Now, his would-be co-star in the film, Danny Ramirez, has spoken out.
via: EW
Ramirez says he felt he had "arrived as a performer" when he got the chance to star alongside Phoenix in a film by the director of such masterpieces as Safe, Far from Heaven, Carol, and May December. But, the Top Gun: Maverick actor seems to understand that in Hollywood, sometimes that's just how the cookie crumbles.
“It’s definitely disappointing,” Ramirez told Variety at the Academy Museum Gala Saturday night in Los Angeles. “If anything, it just gave me more inspiration to keep driving, keep pushing, and knowing that I’m on the right path and approaching the work the right way. So that’s what I’m excited about.”
Phoenix abruptly exited film that he had been developing with Haynes for years just five days before filming commenced in Mexico. Ramirez was in the final days of shooting the second season of The Last of Us, on which he plays Manny Ramirez, when his costar left the project.
Phoenix did not provide a reason for his departure, but the film's sales hinged on his casting, and his role reportedly could not be recast. The full crew that had been hired was suddenly out of work, stakeholders were left expecting to be paid, and losses were projected to balloon upward of seven figures.
“It’s definitely a very complicated situation,” Ramirez said. “The audition process was extensive, and so what I walked away with that was just the artistic validation of throwing down opposite of [Phoenix] in this chemistry read.… There was a moment that I was like, ‘Oh, I’ve arrived as a performer.'”
Asked if the film could still happen, Ramirez noted that he's "been shifting gears to different projects, and so the most recent update is 'hopefully.'"
I do not think that if there is a good script that just because your lead drops out that the film needs to be shelved indefinitely.
I really hope the film gets made down the road, especially since I don't believe that just because your lead actor drops out that he/she can't be replaced. Actors are replaceable all the time.
Besides Lewis Pullman and openly gay AEW star Anthony Bowens throwing their hats in the ring to replace Joaquin, if the film is revived, I'd like to see actors such as Ramirez's The Last of Us co-star Pedro Pascal in the role. Or since Pedro is pretty busy, how about Colman Domingo, Matt Bomer, Jonathan Bailey, Ricky Martin, Andrew Scott, Murray Bartlett, Hugh Jackman, and Luke Evans.
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