Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. To keep up with our latest features, sign up for the Weekly Edit newsletter and follow us @mubinotebook on Twitter and Instagram.News Office Space.Some Hollywood insiders are blaming post-pandemic work-from-home policies—rather than rampant financialization and an overinvestment in stale intellectual-property tentpoles—for the industry’s recent decline.A coalition of human-rights groups have penned an open letter to Netflix demanding the renewal of its “Palestinian Stories” collection, which expired earlier this month after three years on the platform.Workers in RadicalMedia’s nonfiction division have launched a union drive, having collected an “overwhelming majority” of signature cards from the 65-person bargaining group. They plan to join the Writers Guild of America East.China will not have an Oscar entry this year, after the Academy deemed the documentary The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru (2023) ineligible for the Best Foreign Picture award,...

by Cláudio Alves

Joaquin Phoenix's last great performance was in C'mon C'mon.

Do you have your own dream Oscar ballots lying around? I've been doing them for ages, probably since first finding The Film Experience and becoming entranced by Nathaniel's Film Bitch Awards. In recent years, the mountains of notebooks finally came to be formally digitized, starting with the long process of creating Letterboxd lists out of every Oscar eligibility rulebook, going back to 1927. This way, I was able to make a massive Excel spreadsheet with ballots for every year, following AMPAS guidelines. Oh well, much ado about nothing. The only reason I'm bringing this up is to contextualize the bizarre birthday post in store for today, when Joaquin Phoenix celebrates his mid-century mark.

As the Todd Haynes fiasco and the disappointing Joker diptych have made Joaquin Phoenix something of a sore subject, let's go back to happier times and better movies.

Exclusive: The Los Angeles Film Critics Association is gearing up toward a special yearlong screening series in collaboration with the Egyptian Theatre that will commence in January 2025. In anticipation of the launch, Lafca — which is putting on the event to celebrate its 50th anniversary — announced two preview dates this year with filmmakers Michael Mann and Todd Haynes, whose Q&As will be moderated by members.

Assembling award-winning guests, archival prints and extended conversations, the series will kick off Nov. 18 for a double feature of Mann’s The Insider and Heat. His conversation will be moderated by The New Yorker‘s film critic Justin Chang in between the films. The next month, on Dec. 9, Haynes’ Safe will be screened alongside Carol, and the director will appear in an in-between Q&a with Los Angeles Times’ film editor Joshua Rothkopf.

The 2025 film series aims to celebrate the organization’s half-century of existence...

As of this writing this year’s five predicted Oscar nominees for Best Supporting Actor are Kieran Culkin (“A Real Pain”), Clarence Maclin (“Sing Sing”), Guy Pearce (“The Brutalist”), Stanley Tucci (“Conclave”), and Denzel Washington (“Gladiator II“). Pearce is particularly worthy of note. He’s currently in second place with 5/1 odds according to the combined predictions of Gold Derby users, and after a long career he’s looking to finally become a first-time Oscar contender.

See‘The Brutalist’ trailer welcomes to Best Actor contender Adrien Brody to America [Watch]

In “The Brutalist,” Pearce plays Harrison Lee Van Buren, a wealthy industrialist who becomes the most important client for architect László Tóth (Adrien Brody). Ever since his breakout role in 1994’s “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert,” Pearce has delivered a number of acclaimed turns over the years, but has never been recognized by the academy.

For 1997’s “L.A.

By now, you probably are aware of the situation involving Joaquin Phoenix and the Todd Haynes film. Recently, it was revealed that Phoenix walked away from an upcoming Haynes film just five days before filming was set to begin in Mexico. It left everyone else involved in a terrible positioning, forcing the whole project to get shelved. And one of the folks directly involved was none other than up-and-coming actor Danny Ramirez.

Continue reading Danny Ramirez Said “It’s Definitely Disappointing” When Joaquin Phoenix Abruptly Left Todd Haynes Film at The Playlist.

Danny Ramirez is ready to talk about the “disappointing” experience of having Joaquin Phoenix abruptly exit a film the two were set to co-star in.

Ramirez landed the co-lead role in Todd Haynes’ now-shelved queer romance after what Ramirez called an “extensive” audition process. And then the whole project fell apart just five days before production was supposed to begin.

It was Phoenix who brought the idea to Haynes and developed the (probably) Nc-17-rated script with screenwriter Jon Raymond. IndieWire was the first to report the news that Phoenix dropped out of the film.

“It’s definitely disappointing,” Ramirez told Variety at the Academy Museum Gala. “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.”

Ramirez added that it is “definitely...

Danny Ramirez was set to star alongside Joaquin Phoenix in a gay romance film from director Todd Haynes. But Phoenix dropped out of the untitled project just five days before shooting began in Guadalajara, Mexico.

“It’s definitely disappointing,” Ramirez told Variety‘s Marc Malkin at the Academy Museum Gala Saturday night in Los Angeles. He later added, “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.”

After news broke in August that Phoenix had left the project, sources told Variety that the film, which hinged on Phoenix’s casting, was in peril. The Nc-17-rated film was set to focus on two men in love in the 1930s who flee L.A. and go to Mexico.

“It’s definitely a very complicated situation,...

Evan Peters has not only created his position in the industry as a phenomenal actor but has also become a significant part of Marvel Studios. Considering how he played the role of Todd Haynes in Kick-Ass and appeared as Peter Maximoff/Quicksilver in X-Men movies and Deadpool 2, Peters even appeared in Kathryn Hahn’s Agatha All Along Episode 6.

Evan Peters as Peter Maximoff aka Quicksilver | image: Marvel Studios

However, while the actor appeared in the Disney+ series as Agatha Harkness’ hostage and bewitched husband, Ralph Bohner, Evan Peters’ role seemed like a disgrace to his talent. Given that the actor has proven his skills in playing superhero roles in Marvel, Peters should have had a Chris Evans-like renaissance, if any. Unfortunately, his appearance as a character who isn’t even in the comics seemed simply outrageous.

Evan Peters’ Appearance as Ralph Bohner in Agatha All Along Episode 6

Following...

“There are practical paths and intuitive paths with each character,” says Cory Michael Smith at the start of this episode, and it’s a recurring theme throughout. The talented actor was Riddler on the series Gotham, a standout in three Todd Haynes films, and now plays Chevy Chase in Saturday Night. On this episode he details the careful process of studying Chevy clips for months before diving into the script. He talks about the importance of “ridding myself of any hint of fraudulence,” why it’s so important for him to show up with lots of ideas, how being intentional with his […]

The post “I’ve Learned Over the Years That If You Show Up with a Basketful of Ideas, It’s Almost Always Rewarded”: Cory Michael Smith, Back To One, Episode 313 first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.

“There are practical paths and intuitive paths with each character,” says Cory Michael Smith at the start of this episode, and it’s a recurring theme throughout. The talented actor was Riddler on the series Gotham, a standout in three Todd Haynes films, and now plays Chevy Chase in Saturday Night. On this episode he details the careful process of studying Chevy clips for months before diving into the script. He talks about the importance of “ridding myself of any hint of fraudulence,” why it’s so important for him to show up with lots of ideas, how being intentional with his […]

The post “I’ve Learned Over the Years That If You Show Up with a Basketful of Ideas, It’s Almost Always Rewarded”: Cory Michael Smith, Back To One, Episode 313 first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.

It’s unclear if Todd Haynes will ever return to his shelved queer romance drama after Joaquin Phoenix dropped out of the project just days before filming was set to begin. But if Haynes still wants to make it, Lewis Pullman is happy to take on Phoenix’s role.

Read More: Joaquin Phoenix Kills Todd Haynes’ Gay Detective Film By Dropping Out At The Last Minute

IndieWire (via Variety) reports that Pullman wants to join his “Top Gun: Maverick” co-star Danny Ramirez on the untitled film and possibly revive it from its unfortunate fate.

Continue reading Lewis Pullman Says He’s “Here” To Replace Joaquin Phoenix In Todd Haynes’ Scrapped Queer Romance: “I Would Love To Get That Call” at The Playlist.

Lewis Pullman is ready to step in where Joaquin Phoenix pulled out.

The “Thunderbolts” star told Variety that he would be more than happy to replace “Joker” actor Phoenix in the now-shelved Todd Haynes queer-romance movie. Phoenix, who brought the idea to Haynes and developed the (probably) Nc-17-rated feature with screenwriter Jon Raymond, dropped out of the film five days before production began. IndieWire was the first to report the news.

Phoenix and Danny Ramirez were going to play two men in the 1930s who begin a romantic relationship and leave Los Angeles for Mexico.

Pullman, who co-starred with Ramirez in “Top Gun: Maverick,” wants to join the untitled Haynes film and resurrect its production.

“I would love to get that call,” Pullman said of stepping into the role. “It’s a brilliant idea. I’m here. I’m here. I’m ready.”

Ramirez and Pullman still collaborate even years after “Top Gun: Maverick.

Cory Michael Smith’s performance as Chevy Chase is one of the many highlights of the new film Saturday Night.

And while some viewers might be discovering the 37-year-old’s talents for the first time, Cory has been demonstrating his impressive abilities for over a decade.

After bursting onto the scene in the acclaimed 2014 HBO miniseries Olive Kitteridge, Cory quickly became a favorite of award-winning filmmaker Todd Haynes.

Cory Michael Smith attends the opening night gala of Metropolitan Opera’s “Dead Man Walking” at Lincoln Center on September 26, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

And if you’re one of the many new fans wondering where you might have seen him before, here’s a quick rundown of Cory’s most memorable roles:

Carol (2015)

Based on Patricia Highsmith’s beloved 1952 novel The Price of Salt, this Oscar-nominated film centers around an illicit romance between Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara.

Joaquin Phoenix was set to star in a queer romance movie alongside Danny Ramirez, but he dropped out of the project just days before filming was set to begin.

Danny‘s former Top Gun: Maverick co-star Lewis Pullman is now saying he’d replace Joaquin!

Keep reading to find out more…

“I would love to get that call,” Lewis told Variety. “It’s a brilliant idea. I’m here. I’m here. I’m ready.”

The untitled film, to be directed by Todd Haynes, is “said to follow two men who are intense lovers and leave California for Mexico.” The film was canceled when Joaquin dropped out.

Lewis recently received an Emmy nomination for his work in Lessons in Chemistry and he can be seen in the new Max movie Salem’s Lot. Next year, he’ll appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Thunderbolts.

Good Golly, It’s Dali: Dupieux Dreams Surreal in Distinctive Biopic

It seems surrealism’s pioneer Salvador Dali is experiencing something of a culturally concentric resurgence as a cinematic subject, granted his most appropriately thematic rendering yet in Quentin Dupieux’s Daaaaaali!, the second feature this year from the idiosyncratic director, who is also kinda sorta delivering his first biopic. Arriving shortly after Mary Harron’s shockingly stilted Daliland, featuring Ben Kingsley as the iconic artist, Dupieux formulates his own expectedly original rendering, presenting something more along the lines of Portrait of an Artist as a Difficult Man. Much like Todd Haynes did with Bob Dylan, a revolving door of actors portray Dali, sometimes switching freely in scenes dealing with carefree anachronisms regarding his life and work.…...

Debuting feature film directors Karrie Crouse and Will Joines describe their cinematic inspirations for Hold Your Breath as a bit of Kubrick’s The Shining and The Others with the visual panache of Malick’s Days of Heaven. After seeing the Searchlight film, which had its world premiere as one of the Toronto Film Festival’s Special Presentations last month and will begin streaming Friday on Hulu, I thought more of another movie, now 40 years old. Places in the Heart won Sally Field a second Oscar (“You really like me!”) as a widow in Depression-era North Texas trying to survive the elements threatening her farm and her two young children.

I also thought a bit about the great Todd Haynes 1995 drama Safe, with Julianne Moore hiding behind a gas mask to avoid the dangers in our environment. This film falls short of those but is memorable enough to make an impression all its own.

Apart from being one of the most impeccable actors of our time, Joaquin Phoenix is also pretty anxious. This was more apparent with the canning of his upcoming gay romance by Todd Haynes due to the actor’s exit just five days before the production commenced, as the actor reportedly got cold feet.

Joaquin Phoenix | Credit: Joker/Warner Bros.

Phoenix was also pretty anxious about joining forces with one of the biggest singers of our time, Lady Gaga, for the Joker sequel, which is far more ambitious than its Oscar-nominated predecessor.

Joaquin Phoenix Feared He’d Be Overwhelmed by Lady Gaga’s Vocal Prowess Joaquin Phoenix | Credit: Joker: Folie à Deux/Warner Bros.

While Joaquin Phoenix was pretty nervous about working with Lady Gaga, given the latter’s stature in the realm of music, fortunately for him, the Grammy winner didn’t come with any of that “Lady Gaga energy...

Hello Insiders. Jesse Whittock here to take you through a week in international TV and film that comes from as far and wide apart as Spain and Indonesia. Read on.

San Sebastian Spotlight

Johnny Depp at the San Sebastian Film Festival

In-Depp analysis: Spain’s San Sebastian Film Festival closes tomorrow, ending what many people on the ground described as one of the event’s strongest lineups in recent years. The festival opened with a bang with Audrey Diwan’s erotic remake Emmanuelle, but that film received mediocre reviews in Spain. Deadline’s Stephanie Bunbury was a little more generous, and described the flick as a “brave attempt.” There was a lot more love for the other big world premiere in San Sebastian — Johnny Depp’s second directorial effort, Modi — Three Days On The Wing Of Madness. The period flick debuted out of competition here in San Sebastian, where Depp...

US producer Christine Vachon has again addressed the controversy surrounding Joaquin Phoenix’s sudden departure from Todd Haynes’ gay drama days before shooting was due to begin.

Speaking in San Sebastián yesterday (September 24) in a fireside talk at the festival’s Creative Investors conference, the Killer Films producer initially refused to be drawn on the subject and claimed she didn’t know much more about the situation than had already been reported.

“Pretty much what happened is out there for all of you to read. I don’t know much more than that, I really don’t,” Vachon told event moderator Wendy Mitchell.

Producer Christine Vachon has been reflecting on Joaquin Phoenix’s reported exit from Todd Haynes’ latest film, days before filming.

The fallout continues to unfurl following Joaquin Phoenix’s reported decision to walk out on Todd Haynes’ latest project just days before production was set to commence.

Hundreds of people are said to have suddenly found themselves out of work when the film lost its star, shortly before cameras were set to roll. Given the desperately short amount of time to find a replacement – and the fact that the movie was supposedly conceived by Phoenix himself – nothing could be done in terms of finding a stand-in for the actor, and the production collapsed.

Knowing how these things work, it’s likely that some folks have found themselves quite out of pocket as well.

Stories have surfaced in the weeks since, detailing a similar pattern of behaviour from Phoenix, including the...

While at the Creative Investors Conference at the San Sebastián International Film Festival, Killer Films producer Christine Vachon addressed the controversy involving Joaquin Phoenix’s last-minute exit from the latest project by “May December” director Todd Haynes.

“The truth is, pretty much what happened is out there for all of you to read. I don’t know much more than that. I’d gossip if I had anything to gossip about, but I don’t. It was tragic,” she said when asked about what happened with the project.

“In a lot of ways, the most tragic part about it is that Todd Haynes is 62. He’s not old, right? But there is a finite number of films that he’ll be able to do in his lifetime. I consider him one of the most extraordinary film artists of his generation, and the idea that his time was wasted and that...

At this point, we all know the drama surrounding Todd Haynes’ unmade film he was developing with Joaquin Phoenix. The two of them were working closely on a new film that was just several days from filming when Phoenix unexpectedly dropped out, leaving the project dead. Money was lost, Phoenix’s name has been tarnished, and Haynes was left with no film to make. And according to one of the filmmaker’s producers, the latter bit is the true tragedy.

Continue reading Producer Calls Joaquin Phoenix/Todd Haynes Drama A “Tragedy” Because It Wasted Haynes’ Time at The Playlist.

Last month, Joaquin Phoenix would make headlines. Not for his upcoming Joker sequel, but because Phoenix would exit from a Todd Haynes film about gay lovers just as it was about to go into production. Haynes’ film revolves around two men who are intense lovers and leave California for Mexico. The reason for Phoenix’s exit is unclear. Still, some have wondered if the project’s intimate and explicit content was a factor. While Phoenix was promoting Joker: Folie à Deux at the Venice Film Festival, he was asked briefly about the situation and replied, “If I do, I’d just be sharing my opinion from my perspective and the other creatives aren’t here to share their piece so I don’t think that would be helpful. So I won’t.”

The Hollywood Reporter has revealed that Christine Vachon, who was a producer on Haynes’ film, spoke about the...

Killer Films’ Christine Vachon isn’t holding back her thoughts on the “tragedy” of a shelved Todd Haynes feature.

The producer spoke on the fate of Haynes’ queer romance during the Creative Investors’ Conference at the San Sebastian Film Festival (via The Hollywood Reporter). Joaquin Phoenix was set to star, but the Oscar-winning actor abruptly dropped out of the film five days before production began. IndieWire was the first to report the news.

“The truth is, pretty much what happened is out there for all of you to see,” Vachon said of Phoenix’s exit. “If I had anything to gossip about it, I would, but I don’t. It was tragic.”

Vachon continued, “The most tragic part about it, in my mind, is Todd Haynes is 62. He’s not old but there’s a finite number of films that he will be able to do in his lifetime. I...

Die renommierte Indie-Produzentin Christine Vachon von Killer Films war zu einem „Fireside Talk“ auf die Creative Investors Conference eingeladen. Dabei stellte sie die Hintergründe klar, was hinter den Kulissen des gescheiterten Filmprojekt von Todd Haynes und Joaquin Phoenix wirklich passiert war.

Christine Vachon (Credit: Imago / Famous)

Auf den „Fireside Talk“ mit Produzentin Christine Vachon zum Abschluss des erstes Tages der Creative Investors Conference hatte man gewartet: Die Chefin von Killer Films, die selten ein Blatt vor den Mund nimmt (heute Vormittag hatte sie zum Auftakt des Industrietages auf dem San Sebastián Film Festival in einer Wortmeldung bereits lautstark zum Zustand des amerikanischen unabhängigen Kinos erklärt: „Our model isn’t fucking sustainable!“), war als Produzentin an Bord des unglückseligen neuen Filmprojekts von Todd Haynes, das dieser auf Anregen von Joaquin Phoenix gemeinsam mit dem Filmstar entwickelt hatte – eine angeblich explizite schwule Liebesgeschichte vor dem Hintergrund eines Krimiplots in den 1930er-Jahren. Nur...

Christine Vachon of Killer Films, a longtime collaborator of Todd Haynes who was meant to be producing the director’s project with Joaquin Phoenix before the actor exited as shooting was set to start, has told “the truth” of the situation and described what she believes is the most tragic part.

Vachon spoke at the San Sebastian Film Festival on Tuesday to discuss the sustainability of making films in an ever-changing industry. When asked about Phoenix pulling out of the gay romance movie — reportedly putting hundreds of crewmembers out of work — she said she felt most for Haynes.

“The truth is, pretty much what happened is out there for all of you to see,” Vachon began. “If I had anything to gossip about it, I would, but I don’t. It was tragic. The most tragic part about it, in my mind, is Todd Haynes is 62. There’s a finite...

Veteran producer Christine Vachon spoke publicly this morning about what she described as the “tragedy” behind Todd Haynes’ now-shelved gay romance flick starring Joaquin Phoenix at the San Sebastian Film Festival.

Vachon — a regular at the Spanish festival — discussed the abandoned project as part of her keynote at the festival’s industry-focused Creative Investors’ Conference.

To start, Vachon shut down the suggestion that there was an elaborate backstory behind the production being halted.

“Pretty much what happened is what’s out there for you to read. I don’t know any more than that. I would gossip if I had anything to gossip about,” Vachon said before adding that “it was tragic” to see the production fall.

“Todd Haynes is 62,” Vachon said. “He’s not old but there’s a finite number of films that he will be able to do in his lifetime. I consider him one of the...

We still don't have many details about what caused Joaquin Phoenix to flee the set of his collaboration with Todd Haynes. Both artists are staying tight-lipped about it, and Haynes' longtime producer Christine Vachon of Killer Films doesn't have any insider info. "Pretty much what happened is what’s out there for you to read.

Brady Corbet’s ferocious love of cinema is felt every minute in The Brutalist, which won the director the Silver Lion at this year’s Venice International Film Festival and is a highlight in the Main Slate programme of the 62nd New York Film Festival. Co-written with Mona Fastvold, the film stars a virtuoso Adrien Brody who is accompanied by the swell ensemble cast of Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Alessandro Nivola, Stacy Martin, Joe Alwyn, Raffey Cassidy, Emma Laird, and Isaach De Bankolé.

Corbet’s go-to cinematographer Lol Crawley, together with the formidable production design by Judy Becker create a 70mm tableau that functions as a palimpsest of memories and dreams, realities and archives. A past...

Im Rahmen der Gala-Premiere seines aktuellen Films „Konklave“ wird Edward Berger am 6. Oktober beim Zurich Film Festival mit dem „A Tribute to…Award“ geehrt.

Edward Berger wird beim Zurich Film Festival geehrt (Credit: Imago / Funke Foto Services)

Das Zurich Film Festival, dessen 20. Ausgabe von 3. bis 13. Oktober stattfindet zeichnet Regisseur und Drehbuchautor Edward Berger („Im Westen nichts Neues“) für sein filmisches Schaffen mit dem „A Tribute to…Award“ aus. Wie das Festival heute mitteilt, wird die Preisverleihung am 6. Oktober im Rahmen der Gala-Premiere von Bergers aktuellem Film „Konklave“ im Kongresshaus Zürich stattfinden.

Christian Jungen, Artistic Director des Zurich Film Festival: „Edward Berger ist mit dem Vatikanthriller ‚Konklave‘ ein Meisterwerk gelungen. Edward ist ein Meister des klassischen Stils, der seine Regie ganz in den Dienst der Geschichte stellt und seinen Charakterdarstellern wie Ralph Fiennes Raum gibt, ihr Können zu entfalten. Er ist sehr vielseitig, findet sich in den verschiedensten Genres zurecht und...

The Zurich Film Festival will this year present director Edward Berger with its prestigious Golden Eye A Tribute To…Award, honoring his life’s work.

Berger, whose 2022 war epic All Quiet on the Western Front was nominated for 9 Oscars and won 4, is back in the award conversations this year with his latest feature, Conclave. The gripping Vatican-set drama stars Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci and John Lithgow in a behind-the-scenes thriller about the selection of a new pope after the death of the previous pontiff.

“With Conclave, Edward Berger has successfully created a masterpiece,” said Zurich Film Festival artistic director Christian Jungen. “Edward is a master of the classic style who allows his character actors like Ralph Fiennes to give room to their talent and whose directions are entirely intended to serve the story. He is multifaceted, able to navigate a wide range of genres and always manages to find the appropriate style and tone.

Last month, actor Joaquin Phoenix made waves after he dropped out of a new film from Carol director Todd Haynes mere days before the film was supposed to start. The movie is reportedly a gay romance, and there was speculation that Phoenix may have gotten cold feet about the subject matter. But it's starting to sound like he just has an issue with dropping out of movies at the last minute in general.

This comes from Phoenix's fellow actor James McAvoy, who's currently out there promoting his new movie Speak No Evil. During an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, McAvoy said that Phoenix also dropped out of M. Night Shyamalan's 2016 horror movie Split right before shooting was set to begin: “I think he ditched it like two weeks before they started shooting. It was really last minute.”

McAvoy was called in to play the lead character in...

James McAvoy claims that his pivotal role in M Night Shyamalan’s Split was originally to be played by Joaquin Phoenix, but he allegedly quit two weeks before filming began.

In what’s beginning to look like a pattern, it’s been alleged that Joaquin Phoenix departed the production of M Night Shyamalan’s 2016 thriller Split – just two weeks before filming began. The story comes straight from James McAvoy, who ultimately played Kevin, the kidnapper with multiple personalities, in the finished film – and later reprised the role in 2019’s Glass.

Speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast (via Deadline), McAvoy said, “I think he [Phoenix] ditched it two weeks before they started shooting.”

The actor added that the short window between him replacing Phoenix and the start of the shoot left him with little time to perfect a complex character that essentially required 15 different performances in one movie.

“The script was...

Years before Joaquin Phoenix left Todd Haynes hanging, he dropped out of another major director’s film with days to spare.

James McAvoy recently recounted his “last minute” preparation for the starring role in M. Night Shyamalan‘s 2016 thriller Split after the Oscar-winning actor exited the production two weeks before filming kicked off in Philadelphia.

“I’m confident enough to think I’ll do it better. I’m joking!” said McAvoy on the Happy Sad Confused podcast. “He’s an amazing actor. I think he’d give a very different performance to the one I did, but I think he’d give an incredible performance.”

He added, “Sometimes coming in last minute is the best way. I think he ditched it two weeks before they started shooting. It was really last minute. I had two weeks.”

McAvoy stars in Split as Kevin, a man living with more than 20 personalities, one...

James McAvoy did such an incredible job juggling multiple characters in M. Night Shyamalan’s Split that it’s hard to imagine anyone else in the role, but McAvoy was actually a last-minute addition. Joaquin Phoenix had originally signed on to star, and James McAvoy told Josh Horowitz on the Happy Sad Confused podcast that he got the role after Phoenix reportedly dropped out just two weeks before shooting was set to begin. Not a lot of time for McAvoy to prepare for so many characters.

The actor didn’t think it was weird to take over the role from Phoenix. “No, definitely not,” he said. “I’m confident enough to think that I will do it better anyway. I’m joking. I just like saying the wrong thing.” He added that Phoenix is “an amazing actor” and would likely have given “a very different performance than the one I did,...

Joaquin Phoenix has a reputation in Hollywood for unexpectedly dropping out of movies close to their start dates. His most recent exit was from an untitled gay romance film directed by Todd Haynes just days before shooting was scheduled to begin. This last-minute departure caused the production to fall apart since it had been largely financed based on Phoenix’s involvement.

Phoenix’s unexpected withdrawal from M. Night Shyamalan’s 2016 psychological thriller “Split” also came very late in the process. In a recent interview, actor James McAvoy revealed that with just two weeks to go before filming, he received a call asking him to replace Phoenix.

McAvoy said taking over the leading role on such short notice was challenging since it required portraying 23 distinct personalities. However, he felt the well-written script made the difficult role understandable. Despite the time crunch, McAvoy said he threw himself into the part.

When asked...

James McAvoy appeared on the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast to promote his villainous turn in the new horror movie “Speak No Evil,” but his revelation about M. Night Shyamalan’s “Split” has garnered attention on social media. McAvoy said he only had about two weeks to prepare for his various roles in the thriller because he was cast at the last minute after Joaquin Phoenix reportedly dropped out a couple weeks before the production start.

When asked if it was weird to take over the role from Phoenix, McAvoy answered: “No, definitely not. I’m confident enough to think that I will do it better anyway. I’m joking. I just like saying the wrong thing.”

“Are you kidding? He’s an amazing actor,” McAvoy said. “He’d give a very different performance than the one I did but an incredible one. Sometimes coming in last minute is the best way.

Exclusive: Amid some of the best reviews of his career for his work in Sony’s Saturday Night, Cory Michael Smith has landed a supporting role in Sentimental Value, renowned Norwegian filmmaker Joachim Trier’s follow-up to his Oscar-nominated romance The Worst Person in the World, sources tell Deadline.

Smith joins an ensemble led by The Worst Person breakout Renate Reinsve, which also includes Stellan Skarsgård, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas and Elle Fanning, as previously announced. He plays the agent of Fanning’s character, an American movie star who comes to Oslo, which is where the comedy-drama is shooting now through November, for release next year.

Marking Trier’s sixth feature outing, Sentimental Value is a portrait of a family in Oslo, the house they’ve lived in for generations, and how the past has a way of resurfacing in unexpected ways. Reinsve plays Nora, an acclaimed stage actress, who alongside...

As Joaquin Phoenix gears up to reprise his Oscar-winning role as Arthur Fleck in the upcoming sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux, the actor has found himself embroiled in a new controversy with his abrupt exit from Todd Haynes’ gay romance movie.

Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck | Credit: Warner Bros.

The actor, who was set to star in the movie and serve as its producer, reportedly withdrew just days before filming was scheduled to start. His actions are said to be negatively impacting the much-anticipated Joker sequel, potentially jeopardizing its chances in the Oscar race.

Hollywood Pressures Joaquin Phoenix to Settle After Abrupt Film Exit Amidst Joker 2 Release

Joaquin Phoenix’s abrupt departure from a project he was deeply invested in has left many in shock. New reports have revealed that the actor was the one who “brought it to Haynes, only to decide at the last possible minute that...

Speaking to an audience at the Toronto International Film Festival, Cate Blanchett reflected,“We do think about how much still has to change within the industry in terms of equity, inclusion and making films more sustainably. But, you know, we have made huge advances.” One example of the slow-moving change in Hollywood is Carol,...

Cate Blanchett touched down in Toronto for a wide-ranging talk about creative conflict on film sets, making big-budget films “risky,” and why her six-time Oscar-nominated film “Carol” struggled to find funding.

Blanchett, who is at TIFF supporting Alfonso Cuarón’s Apple TV+ show “Disclaimer” and Guy Maddin’s film “Rumours,” was welcomed at the Royal Alexandra Theatre with a standing ovation after fans lined up early to acquire rush tickets to the event.

Early in the conversation, Blanchett talked about her love for performing theater in front of a live audience, leading her to address the “streamers out there” that don’t release viewership data.

“We want the numbers,” Blanchett said. “Not so we know how much money is being made, but we want to know how many eyeballs have been on things that we have made. That’s greatly important.”

Blanchett recalled performing live theater and hearing people leave...

Mark Ruffalo might be known best for his portrayal of Hulk in the Marvel Cinematic Universe but other films in his portfolio prove that that actor is not a one-trick pony. Whether it’s The Adam Project, Now You See Me, or Begin Again, Mark Ruffalo has proven time and again why his undeniable charm is enough to grab the spotlight all for himself. Of course, it helps that he is a phenomenal actor and a great person overall.

Mark Ruffalo in Avengers: Endgame | Credits: Marvel Studios

In 2019, Mark Ruffalo came out with a thriller that was unfortunately overshadowed by the MCU blockbuster, Avengers: Endgame. While many seem to have missed out on Dark Waters, we promise you that the 2-hour long film is absolutely worth every single minute you spend watching it. Don’t just take our word for it, though.

Cinema Fans Swear by Mark Ruffalo’s Dark...

Pedro Almodóvar’s The Room Next Door won the Golden Lion for best film at the 2024 Venice Film Festival.

Almodóvar’s first English-language feature marks the first time he has won the top award at one of the three major film festivals. Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore star in the story of a woman who makes the decision to end her life, and the friend who re-enters her world around this time.

Scroll down for the full list of winners

Sony Pictures Classics will release the film in the US on December 20, with Warner Bros handling multiple international territories including UK-Ireland.

The 81st Venice Film Festival comes to a close today with the awards ceremony, held at the Sala Grande in the Palazzo del Cinema.

Starting at 7pm Cet (6pm BST), viewers can watch the ceremony live in the video above; Screen will be updating this page with the winners as they are announced.

Scroll down for the latest winners

The ceremony will be hosted by Italian actress Sveva Alviti, who also hosted the opening ceremony on August 28. A Competition jury led by Isabelle Huppert will award eight prizes, including the Golden Lion for best film. There are further awards in the Horizons,...

Joaquin Phoenix has undertaken a significant physical transformation for his role in “Joker: Folie à Deux,” potentially for the last time in his career.

At a press conference during the Venice Film Festival, Phoenix, now 49 and an Oscar-winning actor, revealed that the weight loss for this sequel was more challenging compared to the 2019 film.

The additional difficulty stemmed from the musical elements of the sequel, which required extensive dance rehearsals.

Phoenix remarked, “This time, it felt a bit more complicated just because there was so much dance rehearsal that we were doing, which I didn’t have last time. And so it felt a bit more difficult.”

Phoenix Will Not Be Undertaking Such Dramatic Physical Changes Again In The Future

When asked about the possibility of undertaking such dramatic physical changes again in the future, Phoenix responded candidly, “You’re right. I’m 49. I probably shouldn’t do this again.

Afternoon Insiders, here we are once again, another week and another busy one in the world of international film and TV. Sign up to the newsletter here. Or read on.

Splashy Last Week On The Lido

Uncharacteristically buzzy: The Venice Film Festival ends tomorrow after an uncharacteristically buzzy second week. The festival is usually front-loaded, with the splashiest titles playing early. This year, however, Alberto Barbera, who dished to Andreas, said the lengthy runtimes of some competition titles meant the spoils had to spread across both weeks. Enter Brady Corbet’s 215-minute post-wwii epic The Brutalist, starring Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn, Stacy Martin, Raffey Cassidy, Emma Laird, Isaach De Bankolé and Alessandro Nivola. The pic was well received, landing a 13-minute ovation from the Sala Grande audience. Pedro Almodóvar launched his English-language debut The Room Next Door with his leading ladies Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore.

Exclusive: Jayne Sullivan has been hired as a literary manager at Cinetic Media, the esteemed management and media advisory company founded and overseen by John Sloss.

New to management, Sullivan comes from a producing background, having previously worked alongside Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, Paul Giamatti while under a deal at Showtime, and Brigham Taylor while under a deal at Disney. She’ll be based out of Cinetic’s New York office and will focus on growing a roster of exceptional writer, director, and multi-hyphenate clients.

Observed Kate Hurwitz and Alec Ring, Co-Heads of Cinetic Management, “Jayne was doing all the things a great manager does well before it was her official title. She has incredible taste, a strong work ethic, and her experience across the indie and studio landscape equips her to excel with artists at all stages of their careers. We are thrilled to have her join our team.”

Added Sullivan,...

The Russian-Canadian director of documentary Russians At War, which is screening Out of Competition in Venice, has pushed back against suggestions that the film is an attempt to whitewash war crimes by Russian soldiers in Ukraine.

Anastasia Trofimova spent seven months embedded under the radar with a Russian army battalion in Eastern Ukraine for the documentary giving a rare insight into the lives of Russian troops.

The work ultimately presents a portrait of ordinary men grappling to make sense of what they are doing on the front, living in harsh conditions and risking their lives thousands of miles from friends and family.

Related: Lady Gaga, Joaquin Phoenix & Todd Phillips On Why ‘Joker: Folie À Deux’ Isn’t Really A Musical, Phoenix Also Talks Exit From Todd Haynes Pic — Venice

Estimates are varied but between 66,000 to 120,000 Russian soldiers are reported to have died in the invasion, with equally heavy military casualties on the Ukrainian side,...

There are two kinds of pornography, according to movie mythology. One kind is sordid, exploitative, and supported by shady money and even shadier characters. Then there is the cuddly, family kind, as fluffy and innocently randy as a burrow full of bunnies, that flourished on video before the horrible internet spoiled everything and made porn rapey. Italian director Giulia Louise Steigerwalt’s Diva Futura returns us to this Eden of sex tapes and strippers in a scattergun biopic of Riccardo Schicchi, impresario of club, talent farm and film production house Diva Futura. You can decide how much to believe.

As a boy in the 1960s, Schicchi tells his new secretary Debora (Barbara Ronchi) that he never grasped the first principles of machismo. Bullied by other little boys, by day he enjoyed giggling with the girls at school. By night, his father would lend him his binoculars to spy on women through their windows,...

Todd Phillips’ Joker: Folie à Deux, the sequel to his 2019 Golden Lion winner Joker, just had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival — dancing away with a 12½ minute ovation.

Accompanying Phillips at the screening of the Warner Bros./DC film were stars Joaquin Phoenix, who won the Best Actor Oscar for his turn in the first film, and Lady Gaga.

The audience applauded, along with the sounds of “Brava”, whistling and chants for stars “Gaga” and “Joaquin” echoing throughout the theatre.

Gaga waved to the crowd as the warm applause continued. Phoenix exited the stage first, and Gaga stayed with Phillips for an extra minute or so.

Related: Lady Gaga, Joaquin Phoenix & Todd Phillips On Why ‘Joker: Folie À Deux’ Isn’t Really A Musical, Phoenix Also Talks Exit From Todd Haynes Pic — Venice

The crime drama with musical flourishes finds Arthur Fleck (Phoenix) institutionalized at Arkham State Hospital,...