Danny Ramirez on costar Joaquin Phoenix dropping out of Todd Haynes film

Joaquin Phoenix left a trail of broken hearts when he walked away from Todd Haynes’ untitled gay period romance period film in August, among them, one belonging to his costar Danny Ramirez.

Ramirez felt he had “arrived as a performer” when he got the chance to star alongside Phoenix in a film by the director of such masterpieces as Safe, Far from Heaven, Carol, and May December. But, the Top Gun: Maverick actor seems to understand that in Hollywood, sometimes that’s just how the cookie crumbles.

“It’s definitely disappointing,” Ramirez told Variety at the Academy Museum Gala Saturday night in Los Angeles. “If anything, it just gave me more inspiration to keep driving, keep pushing, and knowing that I’m on the right path and approaching the work the right way. So that’s what I’m excited about.”

Phoenix abruptly exited film that he had been developing with Haynes for years just five days before filming commenced in Mexico. Ramirez was in the final days of shooting the second season of The Last of Us, on which he plays Manny Ramirez, when his costar left the project.

Phoenix did not provide a reason for his departure, but the film’s sales hinged on his casting, and his role reportedly could not be recast. The full crew that had been hired was suddenly out of work, stakeholders were left expecting to be paid, and losses were projected to balloon upward of seven figures.

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“It’s definitely a very complicated situation,” Ramirez said. “The audition process was extensive, and so what I walked away with that was just the artistic validation of throwing down opposite of [Phoenix] in this chemistry read.… There was a moment that I was like, ‘Oh, I’ve arrived as a performer.’”

Asked if the film could still happen, Ramirez noted that he’s “been shifting gears to different projects, and so the most recent update is ‘hopefully.'”