Pedro Pascal takes on Joaquin Phoenix’s role in forbidden gay romance De Noche | Details

Todd Haynes' forbidden gay romance De Noche came to a halt in summer 2025 after Joaquin Phoenix walked out of the project ahead of its shoot - Here's the latest update!

Pedro Pascal

Todd Haynes’ love story De Noche took a traumatic turn with Joaquin Phoenix walking out of the project in 2025. Pedro Pascal, who is currently awaiting the release of his next, Avengers: Doomsday, has now stepped in as his replacement in the gay romance. The actor will be playing a hard detective in the upcoming movie which is set in 1930s Los Angeles.

What is the current update on De Noche?

Being put on hold after Joaquin Phoenix’s exit, De Noche is back on track in 2026. Pedro Pascal has joined the story as a hard detective, confirms Variety. The movie stars Danny Ramirez as his younger lover and the shooting for the film would commence in March 2026. Directed by Todd Haynes of Carol, Far from Heaven and Oscar-nominated May December fame, De Noche marks the first collaboration between Pedro Pascal and Todd Haynes.

What is De Noche all about?

De Noche (much like the classic Chinatown) is the story of an unexpected love affair between a cop (Pascal) and a boarding school teacher (Ramirez) in 1930s Los Angeles. After becoming the target of the city’s corrupt politics, they are forced to flee to Mexico. The director describes the story as one where themes like domestic corruption, racial exploitation and global terror would be touched upon. “But it emerges as a testament to the inexplicable powers of desire and love to survive and overcome even the most crippling of human barriers,” he states.

What happened when Joaquin Phoenix exited De Noche?

Joaquin Phoenix of Joker fame had walked out of De Noche days before the filming were to commence in Mexico in the summer of 2025. "What happened this summer was tough. But the film itself and the script [which Haynes co-wrote with Jon Raymond] itself may resurrect in a different form someday," the director had promised back then. And the day is here!

De Noche FAQs:

Q. What is De Noche about?

A. De Noche is a movie directed by Todd Haynes, starring Pedro Pascal and Danny Ramirez. The plot revolves around two men who become targets of Los Angeles' corrupt political machine and flee to Mexico, where they enter a brutal, passionate love affair.

Q. Is De Noche a horror movie?

A. There's another movie titled De Noche con el Diablo, which is a found-footage horror film about a talk show host who invites potentially terrifying guests, leading to a descent into chaos.

Q. What's the release date for De Noche?

A. De Noche with Pedro Pascal is planned for release, but the exact date isn't confirmed yet. De Noche con el Diablo was released in 2024.

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