Kuala Lumpur, August 28, 2025 — Todd Haynes’s ambitious 1930s-set gay romance De Noche is regaining momentum after an unexpected setback: Pedro Pascal is now in talks to take over the lead role following Joaquin Phoenix’s sudden exit just five days before filming was scheduled to begin. The departure had cast doubt on the production’s future.
Set in 1930s Los Angeles, the film tells the story of a seasoned detective who escapes to Mexico with his lover, played by Danny Ramirez. Co-written by Haynes and Jon Raymond, the project has generated buzz for its bold, NC-17-rated intimacy and artistic ambition—elements Phoenix himself had championed before his withdrawal.
Filming, which had been scheduled for this year, is now expected to resume in early 2026 in Guadalajara, Mexico, pending Pascal’s availability. The Chilean-American actor has become one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars, with three high-profile summer releases—Materialists, Eddington, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps—cementing his rising profile.
Producer Christine Vachon described Phoenix’s departure as a cultural setback, calling it “just criminal” given Haynes’s reputation for pushing boundaries and offering rare cinematic perspectives. Despite the disruption, industry insiders believe Pascal’s casting could reinvigorate the project and sustain its awards-season potential.
