Pedro Pascal is being tipped to replace Joaquin Phoenix in a gay romance film – one year after the Oscar winner dropped out days before filming began.

Phoenix, 50, and Top Gun: Maverick actor Danny Ramirez, 32, were set to play onscreen lovers in the 1930s in Todd Haynes’s De Noche which was to include ‘explicit sexual content’ – with rumors swirling that the actor was uncomfortable with the intimate scenes.

Now Pascal, 50, is ‘circling’ the lead role, Deadline confirms, three months after he and Phoenix had a memorable exchange over the Joker star’s inadvertent offensive salute as they promoted their film Eddington at Cannes.

According to sources, the plan is for the film to ‘get up and running in the New Year in Guadalajara, Mexico‘ – with the schedule being worked around Pascal’s hectic calendar.

Christine Vachon and Pam Koffler are producing for Killer Films.

The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Pedro Pascal for comment and has yet to hear back.

Pedro Pascal is being tipped to replace Joaquin Phoenix in a gay romance film – one year after the Oscar winner dropped out days before filming began – Pascal pictured August 17 2025

Pascal, 50, is ‘circling’ the lead role in Todd Haynes’ De Noche, three months after he and Phoenix had a memorable exchange over the Joker star’s inadvertent offensive salute as they promoted their film Eddington at Cannes

Entire sets had reportedly been built in Guadalajara before Phoenix exited the film.

The crew allegedly speculated at the time that Phoenix’s exit was to do with the steamy scenes – per Variety – although other sources counteract that as Phoenix  brought the project to Haynes initially.

Haynes told Variety in September 2023 that Phoenix began creating the film with ‘fragments of ideas’, adding: ‘Basically it was just this wonderful, organic way to create the script. And Joaquin was pushing it further into more dangerous territory, sexually.’

In May, Pascal and Phoenix went viral in a video which showed The Last of Us star stopping Phoenix from waving to onlookers before the duo briefly spoke.

Netizens suspected The Last Of Us actor was concerned Phoenix’s wave could have inadvertently resembled the Nazi salute.

But according to lipreader NJ Hickling in conversation with the Daily Mail, Pascal told Phoenix he was ‘affecting the cred’ before advising him to ‘act cool.’

As they pose together for photos, Pedro grabs Joaquin’s arm and pulls it down with a playful warning.

‘Argh, don’t do that. You’re affecting the cred. Try and act cool, like you’re about to score, my man.’

The Joker star and Top Gun: Maverick actor Danny Ramirez, 31, (pictured last year) were set to play onscreen lovers in the 1930s in the film which was to include ‘explicit sexual content’

Phoenix developed the screenplay for the detective love story with Haynes (pictured 2021) and Jon Raymond – with a source saying the actor had trepidation over the project amid rumors he was uncomfortable with the film’s graphic sex scenes

Pascal ended up pulling Phoenix’s arm down in an awkward exchange caught by fans

Joaquin, ever the introspective soul, pauses for just a beat. His mouth forms the words: ‘Oh, enough.’

On the surface, it’s a reply to Pedro, but the deeper truth is, Joaquin is talking to himself too. A flicker of self-awareness washes over him. Then, quietly, almost to no one in particular, he breathes, ‘Oh my goodness.’

Fans sounded off with their theories about the interaction on social media, with various tweeting about it and others sharing their musings in the comments section of the video posted to Instagram.

One wrote on X, ‘Joaquin was really enjoying that wave until he got told he looked like a Nazi.’

‘The way Pedro Pascal pulled down Joaquin Phoenix’s arm before an accidental salute has me fried,’ another wrote.

Another Instagram user remarked in the comments section of the video:  ‘A decade ago, no one would have mistaken a simple wave for a Nazi salute. But in today’s heightened political climate, such misinterpretations have become not only plausible but, unfortunately, unsurprising,’ one mused.

‘Guys, he’s trying to save him from being misinterpreted. Or being purposefully misinterpreted. It’s hilarious how people literally can’t do anything anymore,’ one posted on Instagram.

‘Pedro just saved Joaquin’s entire career,’ one joked.