Joaquin Phoenix | Photo credit: TOBY MELVILLE

The sudden withdrawal of Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix from filmmaker Todd Haynes’ upcoming film has led to the cancellation of the project.

According to an American news agency diversityPhoenix dropped out of the gay drama about two men in love who flee to Mexico just five days before filming was scheduled to begin in Guadalajara.

A source close to the production told the outlet that the “Joker” actor got “cold feet” about the project, for which he co-developed the script with Haynes and Jon Raymond.

Phoenix was set to star alongside “Top Gun: Maverick” actor Danny Ramirez in the 1930s-set love story with “explicit sexual content.” The film was set to receive an NC-17 rating due to its explicit sex scenes.

The role will not be recast for the film.

During the press tour for his 2023 Netflix film “May December,” director Todd Haynes told IndieWire that Phoenix was the driving force behind the project.

“The whole experience was driven by Joaquin. It was driven by his daring, by his desire to break down barriers and really explore the uncomfortable sides of this relationship. And yet it felt like a very organic process,” the filmmaker said.

Phoenix, 49, will next be seen in “Joker: Folie a Deux,” the sequel to his 2019 film “Joker,” for which he won his first Oscar for best actor.

The film, which also stars Lady Gaga, was directed by Todd Phillips and will be released worldwide in October this year.