James McAvoy Says Joaquin Phoenix Also Ditched M. Night Shyamalan’s Split

James McAvoy Says Joaquin Phoenix Also Ditched M. Night Shyamalan's Split

As a long-time admirer of Joaquin Phoenix’s exceptional acting skills, I can’t help but feel a tad frustrated by his propensity for abandoning projects at the eleventh hour. Don’t get me wrong; I appreciate his commitment to his craft and his unwillingness to compromise on roles that don’t resonate with him. However, it seems that this dedication occasionally backfires, leaving us fans eagerly anticipating a movie, only to have it fall apart at the last minute due to Phoenix’s sudden departure.


It appears that Joaquin Phoenix’s tendency to withdraw from projects close to their filming dates goes back further than one might think. As James McAvoy, who played the super-powered villain in M. Night Shyamalan’s films “Split” and its sequel “Glass,” shared, Phoenix was initially cast for these roles before McAvoy stepped in at the last minute. It’s difficult to envision anyone else as the villain, but Phoenix was on track to portray a markedly distinct character on the big screen.

In a chat with Josh Horowitz, James McAvoy revealed that he joined M. Night Shyamalan’s movie “Split” as Kevin quite late, just before filming started. McAvoy mentioned that Joaquin Phoenix had been connected to the role earlier but apparently left it about two weeks before shooting began, a decision made very close to the start of production. McAvoy added that joining at such a late stage in the production process allowed him not to overthink things and jump straight into the challenging role, which required him to portray more than 20 distinct personalities. This turn of events seems to have been fate, as McAvoy delivered one of his finest performances in Shyamalan’s movie, but it also highlights Phoenix’s tendency to back out of projects at the last minute.

Joaquin Phoenix Has a History of Quitting Movies

James McAvoy Says Joaquin Phoenix Also Ditched M. Night Shyamalan's SplitJames McAvoy Says Joaquin Phoenix Also Ditched M. Night Shyamalan's SplitJames McAvoy Says Joaquin Phoenix Also Ditched M. Night Shyamalan's SplitJames McAvoy Says Joaquin Phoenix Also Ditched M. Night Shyamalan's Split

Joaquin Phoenix is a highly dedicated actor who always gives his best in every role. Unfortunately, he has developed a pattern of withdrawing from films just before production begins. Most recently, he dropped out of Todd Haynes’ unnamed gay romance movie, which also featured Danny Ramirez, mere days before filming was scheduled to start. This low-budget project managed to secure financing due to Phoenix’s star power, but since his departure, the movie has fallen apart and there are rumors of a lawsuit to recover the invested funds. This event has ignited discussions about how frequently Phoenix has abandoned films at the last minute, which is more than most actors. Phoenix remained vague when questioned about his decision to exit Haynes’ film.

I believe it’s more appropriate for me to express my personal views, as the others aren’t present to contribute. Sharing my thoughts now seems inappropriate and potentially unhelpful, so I prefer not to do so at this time. Thank you.

In 2023, Joaquin Phoenix took on the role of Napoleon in Ridley Scott’s movie, a project he was about to abandon at the last moment due to his dissatisfaction with the original script. It was reported that Phoenix demanded Paul Thomas Anderson, one of his frequent collaborators, be brought in to rewrite the screenplay or else he would leave the film. Eventually, Anderson did work on the script, and Phoenix portrayed the historical figure, leaving many disappointed. Interestingly enough, Phoenix almost quit the first Joker film in 2019, which he later won a Best Actor award for at the Academy Awards. He is set to appear in the DC sequel in October.

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2024-09-13 22:32