There are no plans to recast the role, leaving the hired crew wondering how they will be paid.

Carlos Alvarez/Getty

Pre-production began months ago.

Crews were hired in Mexico, including Guadalajara, with more flying in to work on the three-month project.

Joaquin Phoenix attends the “Napoleon” premiere at the El Prado Museum on November 20, 2023 in Madrid, Spain.

Joaquin Phoenix.Carlos Alvarez/Getty

Then, around the time of San Diego Comic-Con in late July, Phoenix walked away without warning.

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There are virtually no details as to why the Oscar winner bowed out at the last minute.

Julianne Moore, Director Todd Haynes, Natalie Portman attend the “May December” red carpet during the 76th annual Cannes film festival at Palais des Festivals on May 20, 2023 in Cannes, France.

Todd Haynes at the Cannes red carpet premiere of ‘May December’ with Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman.Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty

This film would have marked Phoenix’s first gay role on screen.

Haynes was open about making the sex scenes as explicit as possible.

This will be an NC-17 film."

He thentold the same outletlater last year, “The whole experience was prompted by Joaquin.

And yet it felt like a very organic process.”