Pedro Pascal came through for Todd Haynes

Remember last year when Joaquin Phoenix quit a new Todd Haynes film, a period piece queer romance, and screwed over the project and everyone associated with it when they were on the precipice of filming? You know I have not forgotten! Well, here is some good news for Todd Haynes and Danny Ramirez, who was meant to star in that film with Phoenix: the film is happening, and it now stars Ramirez and Pedro Pascal. UPGRADE.

Over a year after Phoenix ditched the film—which was in part his idea—because maybe somebody somewhere didn’t want him involved with an explicit gay romance on the eve of Joker: Folie a Deux being released—LOL forever, that film will only be remembered as part of Connor Storrie’s origin story—French financier MK2 Films came on board and everything was able to get back on track.

I would love to know the details, because originally the film stalled because Phoenix’s involvement went beyond just acting, and they were unable to proceed without him (probably due to financing being secured with Phoenix’s involvement as a selling point). Obviously, there had to be some legal wrangling, and equally obviously, Haynes and his producers had to secure new funding, which notably does not come from an American company. I continue to feel just awful for Haynes, who got screwed over by a thoughtless, unprofessional but very famous actor who never had to answer for his sh-thead actions, but I am glad he found his funding, free of Joaquin Phoenix.

The film is called De Noche, and it is co-written by Haynes and Jon Raymond. Danny Ramirez stayed involved with the project through the turmoil, he plays a teacher who falls in love with an older cop, played by Pascal, in 1930s Los Angeles. The themes are forbidden queer love, corruption, political machinations, and rising fascism. The ingredients are good, though honestly, Todd Haynes never cooks the casserole the way you think he will, but here’s hoping that De Noche works out for everyone involved.

I know Joaquin Phoenix doesn’t care about these things, because he’s a flake, but I do hope to one day see Haynes, Pedro, and Danny at the Oscars on behalf of this film. The Academy famously doesn’t respect Todd Haynes as a filmmaker, but the actors in his films often do bag nominations. Let’s start the summoning circle now to manifest nominations for everyone except Joaquin Phoenix, who can sit at home amidst his flakes and trouble no one with his presence.

Here are Pedro and Danny looking 1930s fine (aka, rumpled and poor but hot) in Mexico last month (our agency only released the shots a few days ago), when filming began.