Joaquin Phoenix Losing Out On Roles For Bad Behavior?
Joaquin Phoenix is known for bizarre behavior and going to extremes for roles, but is the actor going too far?
One look at Phoenix’s upcoming schedule, and it’s easy to see that the actor is consistently working. After his Academy Award-nominated role in Her, Joaquin starred in the 2014 film Inherent Vice, in 2015 he acted in Irrational Man, and he has three films in various stages of production. So, without even considering where the original story came from, it’s easy to see that Phoenix is not losing out on any roles.
“Joaquin Phoenix is like a dog that will fetch the ball over and over. He’s the best dog I ever had.” –PTA pic.twitter.com/XP351NZ8GU
— Nictate (@nictate) May 14, 2016
Star Magazine reported that the actor was so difficult that he was losing out on roles, but Gossip Cop is saying that the story has absolutely no merit. The outlet spoke to Phoenix’s rep who said the story “couldn’t be further from the truth.” They continued and said the actor is “offered many roles, but always waits for the right things” and “for what works for him.”
“Joaquin needs to make $5 million a year to support his lifestyle, and so far this year he’s made zero. Getting him to sign on the dotted line is a nightmare. He’ll drag out the salary negotiations for months, which holds up production and costs the studios more money in the end,” the original source that Star spoke with said.
Cannes: @A24 lands Joaquin Phoenix-Lynne Ramsay drama (EXCLUSIVE) https://t.co/DMqpqnDV2J pic.twitter.com/zZPmqSzv5B
— Variety (@Variety) May 13, 2016
The source went on to say that such behavior cost him the role as The Joker in Suicide Squad and possible other Warner Bros. productions. Other productions that Phoenix allegedly lost out on are Batman v Superman as Lex Luthor, and the lead in Doctor Strange, which went to Benedict Cumberbatch.
The only part of this story that seems to be true is that Phoenix was involved in talks to play The Joker, but we never found out what happened as he was only in talks. As for roles in Batman v Superman and Doctor Strange, Gossip Cop says that he turned both roles down, but that isn’t really “difficult” behavior. If anything, it seems like personal preference of Phoenix’s.
In an interview with Playboy, Phoenix cleared up rumors.
“I’ve met on all sorts of movies throughout the years. What seems appealing about some of them is the idea of pushing myself in a way that’s out of my comfort zone. But really, it’s what I’m always looking for—good characters, big ideas and a passionate filmmaker. If those things line up with any kind of movie, I have interest in it.”
Phoenix continued:
“There’s only one movie I regret saying no to—except the person who ended up doing it was so good and was absolutely meant to do it, so I don’t have any regrets. I’m not going to say which one, but it was a really big hit. It’s getting to the point where they’re making some pretty decent movies. I thought Iron Man was fantastic.”
In a separate interview with Time Out, Joaquin Phoenix told the outlet, “I enjoy watching those [superhero] movies… I just don’t know if I want to have the experience of being in them.”
If we can hypothetically point to something that might have cost Joaquin a role or two it would be his mockumentary I’m Still Here, which saw him ordering prostitutes, as Phoenix played a skewed version of himself, transitioning from an actor to a rap star. In fact, Phoenix himself put his acting career on hiatus while he was in character, and so it would be a more believable production.
[Photo by David Buchan/Getty Images]
