Joaquin Phoenix dodges question about his Todd Haynes diss at Venice ‘Joker’ press conference

Jordan Hoffman
·2 min read

“Joker” collaborators Joaquin Phoenix and Todd Phillips returned to the scene of their 2019 triumph, the Venice International Film Festival, and brought their new accomplice Lady Gaga with them for the world premiere of “Joker: Folie à Deux.” It was in 2019 when the DC Comics-branded film from the auteur behind the “Hangover” pictures surprised everyone and won the top prize. While many first wondered if the jury had been sprayed with Joker Venom, the film’s success with critics and future awards bodies (not to mention the general public) proved that not to be the case. Though the film was initially set up as a one-and-done, Warner Bros. used all their skill$ to convince Phillips and Phoenix, who won the Best Actor Oscar for the role, to make a sequel.

And while many moviegoers are jumping out of their skins to see Lady Gaga’s turn as Harlene Quinzel (aka Harley Quinn) opposite Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck (aka Joker), the press corps at Venice put that anticipation off to the side for a moment to ask Phoenix about a recent controversy. 

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A little less than one month ago, Phoenix unceremoniously dropped out of the production of Todd Haynes’s next picture, just a few days before production was set to begin in Guadalajara, Mexico. The untitled film, which Phoenix brought to Haynes and his longtime producing partners at Killer Films, was hyped as an NC-17 gay romance. With little time to regroup after his departure, the show did not go on, and some crew members are currently stuck waiting for checks that are tied up in red tape. 

When asked about this affair in Venice, Phoenix, who was reportedly upbeat during the “Joker” press conference, dodged it nicely, saying, “It would just be sharing my opinion and the other creatives aren’t here to share their piece. It doesn’t feel like that would be right. I don’t think that would be helpful so I just don’t think I will. Thank you.”  

Though festival attendees in Venice’s ancient, half-sunken city get to see Phoenix and Gaga sing and dance their way through crime-riddled mayhem, the rest of the world must wait until October 4.

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