One of the big stories this time last year was of the collapse of “Carol,” “Far From Heaven” and “May December” director Todd Haynes’ next feature.
Joaquin Phoenix was set to play the lead, a volatile cop in 1930s Los Angeles named Richard Rent, while Danny Ramirez was to co-star as Native American schoolteacher Joe Thomas.
The characters become targets of the city’s corrupt political machine, together they flee to Mexico and enter a steamy love affair in the humid jungles of the Western coastline.
The reasoning for Phoenix’s abrupt exit just days before filming was to begin remains unclear; he was the one who brought the project to Haynes. Either way, it seemingly sank the project with producers unable to recast as Phoenix was key to the film’s financing.
In December, while appearing at the Marrakech Film Festival, Haynes indicated he was determined to push forward with the film in some form.
Now we know that form. Deadline reports that the film, now going by the name “De Noche,” is back up and running with Pedro Pascal reportedly circling the project, taking over Phoenix’s role. Ramirez reportedly remains attached as Joe.
Christine Vachon and Pamela Koffler’s Killer Films, which recently produced “Materialists” starring Pascal, is producing this film that is now targeting a New Year shooting start in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Pascal is coming off a very busy year and will contend for a Best Actor gong at the Emmys next month for his work on HBO’s “The Last of Us”.
