'Disappointed' Danny Ramirez Speaks Out about Joaquin Phoenix Bailing from Todd Haynes Gay Romance

"Top Gun: Maverick" actor Danny Ramirez opened up about the "disappointing" departure of Joaquin Phoenix from the Todd Haynes gay romance in which Ramirez was set to star.

"It's definitely disappointing," the "Falcon and the Winter Soldier" actor told Variety's Marc Malkin. However, he went on to add, Phoenix's abrupt departure from the film "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."

The untitled project, a noirish thriller which Phoenix co-wrote, was reportedly a '30s-set detective flick with a hot queer spin. Phoenix and Ramirez would have played lovers who head to Mexico.

Ramirez also spoke about the chemistry read he shared with Phoenix, saying, "The audition process was extensive, and so what I walked away with that was just the artistic validation of throwing down opposite of [Phoenix]... There was a moment that I was like, 'Oh, I've arrived as a performer.'"

Phoenix's departure, which occurred only a handful of days before shooting was scheduled to start, threw the production into disarray, with millions of dollars reportedly wasted. Reports cited a "source" who said that Phoenix had reportedly gotten "cold feet" about the queer role, despite having been the one to approach Haynes with the idea. The film supposedly would have featured steamy gay sex of an NC-17 nature.

The film stirred controversy from the start, given that Phoenix, a straight actor, was slated to play a gay character. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Producer Christine Vachon took to Facebook in a since-deleted post that called the actor's departure "a nightmare," but advised readers, "If you are tempted to finger wag or admonish us that 'that's what you get for casting a straight actor' – DON'T."

Vachon went on to explain that it wasn't merely a matter of filling an LGBTQ+ role with a high-profile name.

"This was HIS project that he brought to US," Vachon said of Phoenix, before declaring that the production company, Killer Films, has a "record on working with LGBTQ actors/crew/directors" that "speaks for itself."

Vachon later called the film's derailing a matter of Haynes' "time [being] wasted," with the producer lamenting, "The most tragic part about it, in my mind, is Todd Haynes is 62. There's a finite number of films that they'll be able to do in his lifetime. I consider him one of the most extraordinary film artists of his generation."

Added Vachon: "We, as a cultural community, lost an opportunity to have another movie by Todd Haynes. That is just criminal."

Speculation about possible recasting after Phoenix's departure has swirled. Out gay wrestler Anthony Bowen has suggested he might be a good fit, and reports have also mentioned Pedro Pascal as a possible replacement.

Ramirez seemed open to the idea of going forward with a different costar. "The most recent update is 'hopefully,'" he said of the film's current status.

Ramirez is due to be seen in the upcoming MCU movie "Captain America: Brave New World," which is expected in theaters next year.