Hollywood's resident chameleon, Joaquin Phoenix, is renowned for his riveting performances, but he also has a reputation for occasionally getting cold feet and wavering on movie sets.
- Nov 8, 2024
AceShowbiz - Joaquin Phoenix, who recently made headlines for his abrupt departure from a planned gay romance film with director Todd Haynes, apparently has a history of being finicky, even with projects he saw through to completion. His role as Commodus in Ridley Scott's 2000 blockbuster "Gladiator" almost didn't happen, as revealed in a recent interview with the New York Times.
Director Ridley Scott recounted an instance on set where Phoenix, dressed in his princely garb, declared, "I can't do it." Russell Crowe, who co-starred as Maximus, found Phoenix's hesitation "terribly unprofessional."
However, Scott took a different approach, acting not just as a director but as a supportive friend. "I can act as a big brother or dad. But I'm quite a friend of Joaquin's. Gladiator was a baptism of fire for both of us in the beginning," Scott remarked.
Understanding Phoenix's nervousness, Scott didn't push him but instead decided to spend time with him, allowing Phoenix to acclimatize to the set's massive scale. "Ridley was really smart. He just shot me for four hours without film. He knew it would take time for me to get anything," Phoenix admitted in a 2018 interview with Collider.
This supportive tactic paid off. Despite the initial struggles, "Gladiator" went on to win five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, with Crowe earning Best Actor. Phoenix's riveting performance as Commodus played a substantial part in the film's success.
Yet, unpredictability seems to be a hallmark of Phoenix's career. Just last summer, Phoenix backed out from Haynes' untitled gay romance film mere days before filming was set to begin. His abrupt decision reportedly left the production in disarray, with sets built and crew members left without compensation. The actor cited "cold feet" and concerns over the film's explicit subject matter as reasons for his departure.
Ridley Scott, who recently worked with Phoenix again on "Napoleon", shared that Phoenix still wrestles with similar apprehensions. However, help from Paul Thomas Anderson, who did uncredited rewrites, turned the experience into a much smoother collaboration.
Despite these challenges, Phoenix's commitment to portraying complex characters has never wavered, making him one of Hollywood's most intriguing and talented actors.
