It was expected, and now it’s official – Pedro Pascal will play a hard-boiled detective opposite Danny Ramirez as his younger lover in “Carol” and “May December” filmmaker Todd Haynes’ new film “De Noche”.
Pascal steps into the role that was originally earmarked for Joaquin Phoenix, who originally reportedly came to Haynes with the gay detective noir feature which is being penned by Haynes and longtime collaborator Jon Raymond.
Phoenix would’ve played the lead – a volatile cop in 1930s Los Angeles named Richard Rent, while Ramirez was to co-star as Native American schoolteacher Joe Thomas. Both characters become targets of the city’s corrupt political machine. Together, they flee to Mexico and enter a love affair in the humid jungles of the Western coastline.
Shooting was all set to take place in the summer of 2024 when, just five days before filming began, Phoenix unexpectedly exited the project. Producers were unable to recast at the time, as Phoenix was key to the film’s financing. Haynes said back in late 2024 he was determined to pursue the film.
While Ramirez was sticking with the project, Pascal’s name was first rumoured last year, but wasn’t confirmed. Now it is, with shooting set to get underway next month.
MK2 Films (“Sentimental Value,” “The Secret Agent”) will handle financing an international sales on the film while Christine Vachon and Pamela Koffler are producing.
It’s thought this project is what led to Ramirez pulling out of returning to his role as Manny in HBO’s “The Last of Us” due to scheduling conflicts. Pascal of course starred in that series in its first season and part of its second with the two actors sharing one of the second season’s most infamous scenes.
Source: Variety
