Producer hits back after Joaquin Phoenix abruptly quits film

“Nightmare”: The producer on the film that Joaquin Phoenix abruptly quit just days ahead of filming has spoken out.

Christine Vachon, who produced the gay romance movie that Joaquin Phoenix shockingly quit five days before filming began, is reportedly backing by her decision to cast the “straight actor” for the lead role.

In a post that has since either been deleted or made private on Facebook, the producer admitted that figuring out next steps after Phoenix’s abrupt exit has been a “nightmare”, according to multiple outlets, reports Page Six.

She then pleaded, per People, “And PLEASE — if you are tempted to finger wag or admonish us that ‘that’s what you get for casting a straight actor’ – DON’T. This was HIS project that he brought to US.”

Vachon, who founded Killer Films, reportedly added that her production company has a “record on working with LGBTQ actors/crew/directors” that “speaks for itself”.

She concluded by pointing out that those criticising the people who worked on the movie are “making a terrible situation even worse”.

Phoenix abruptly quit the production, according to reports. Picture: Rachel Luna/Getty Images

Page Six confirmed on Friday that Phoenix — who is expecting his second child with longtime partner Rooney Mara — backed out of the film at the last minute, leaving cast and crew without jobs.

The publication was also told there had even been sets already built in Guadalajara, Mexico.

A source told Variety on Friday the heterosexual Oscar winner, 49, got “cold feet” about starring in the gay romance flick, which allegedly featured very explicit sex scenes.

A source then exclusively told Page Six the movie’s “subject matter was a factor” in Phoenix’s decision.

Mara and Phoenix are expecting another child. Picture: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

However, the outlet also reports that the Her star’s choice to leave the project sparked a lot of confusion because — as Vachon said — he played a big part in its development.

Director Todd Haynes told IndieWire last year, “The next film is a feature that’s an original script that I developed with Joaquin Phoenix based on some thoughts and ideas he brought to me.

“We basically wrote with him as a story writer. Me and Jon Raymond and Joaquin share the story credit. And we hope to be shooting it beginning early next year. It’s a gay love story set in 1930s LA.”

A source also told Page Six on Friday that Phoenix’s role could not be recast because the movie was pitched to distributors with the Joker star as the lead and that’s a big reason it got sold.

Per Variety, the future of the film is now in “peril” as stakeholders still need to get paid, which could amount in losses that exceed seven figures.

Phoenix’s rep has not returned Page Six’s request for comment and the actor had not yet released a statement on the matter.

This article originally appeared in Page Six and was reproduced with permission.