Pedro Pascal to revive Todd Haynes’ ‘dead’ gay romance after Joaquin Phoenix exit

Pedro Pascal is in talks to star in the revived gay romance De Noche from Todd Haynes, which was previously declared ‘dead’ after original lead Joaquin Phoenix exited the project with ‘cold feet’.

The film from gay director Todd Haynes was originally announced to be an “explicit’ queer period drama in 2023, starring the Joker: Folie à Deux lead Joaquin Phoenix alongside Top Gun: Maverick‘s Danny Ramirez as his lover.

Phoenix however dropped out of the 1930s-set film just five days before production was set to begin, with the star reportedly getting “cold feet” (via Variety).

The then-untitled film was left “completely dead” after Phoenix’s departure – until now.

As reported by Deadline, the film is being brought back from the afterlife with the one and only box office dominator Pedro Pascal at the fore of the gay romance, under the new title De Noche.

The film will follow two men who leave 1930s LA for Mexico after falling in love; Pascal will play the role meant for Phoenix.

“One is a Native American character and one is a corrupt cop in LA. It’s set in the 30s. They have to flee L.A. ultimately and go to Mexico. But it’s a love story and with a strong sexual component,” Haynes told Variety at the Deauville American Film Festival in 2023.

Pascal was reportedly nearly drafted in to save De Noche in 2024 after Phoenix’s departure.

But everyone’s favourite “cool, slutty daddy” didn’t end up taking the role at the time, with a busy schedule for Gladiator II, The Fantastic Four: First Steps and more.

De Noche, from the Oscar-nominated Haynes, will reportedly enter production in 2026 in Guadalajara, New Mexico.

Haynes previously admitted it was “tough” when Phoenix left production, telling Variety in 2024: “But the film itself and the script itself may resurrect in a different form someday.”

Phoenix had a cryptic response when previously asked about why he left the film, saying that he is “not sure how that would be helpful” to explain his reasoning. 

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