Yes, you read that headline correctly: Todd Haynes is teaming up with Joaquin Phoenix again and this time it's gay. And the gay? It's NC-17. That gives us a lot to imagine and this is the first we are hearing of this project. Let's find out more!
Now you all know that I get suspicious when I hear things like that. Unless it's Pedro Almodovar, I'm uncertain about these mainstream directors tackling gay scenes that are truly that sexy and explicit. But Haynes is insisting! And he claims that Joaquin Phoenix is insisting, too!
Word of this film came about when Haynes was being interviewed at Cannes. His film May December premiered at Cannes to a standing ovation. The film stars total icons Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman and takes place in the gorgeous city of Savannah, GA. That's going to be a lot of eye candy, but not so much for those of us who want to ogle men. Well, Haynes hinted that he has an upcoming project that is going to deliver on that front.
Indiewire published some of Haynes's discussion on his upcoming project film. He told the press: “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.”
STOP THE PRESSES. Gay? The 1930s? Los Angeles? That sounds seedy, sexy, and potentially very hot. It also sounds, like most gay period pieces, like it will be rather covered up.
Haynes claims that it will be far from discreet. He went on to say: “Joaquin was pushing me further and going ‘no, let’s go further. This will be an NC-17 film.” Haynes is no stranger to weird sex, camp, and queer motifs.
I should not be surprised on that front considering he delivered the glorious lesbian classic Carol as well as the nudity-filled Velvet Goldmine (inspired, of course, by David Bowie's bi antics). So maybe I shouldn't be suspicious! Maybe Phoenix and Haynes are about to serve something so hot that it gets slapped with an NC-17 rating.
This project is obviously very early in its development. It's possible it may not happen right away, especially considering Haynes hinted at also working on an HBO series with Kate Winslet (the icon, the goddess, the legend herself). The man may be busy in the coming months or years. I only hope that he's not too busy for hot gay content.
In the meantime, remind yourself of Haynes's ability to direct explicit male sex and nudity by watching this hot scene from Velvet Goldmine starring a very naked Ewan McGregor. Rock out with your cock out...or at the very least, with Ewan McGregor's cock out:
