Well this is certainly an intriguing pairing.Joaquin Phoenixhas become a notoriously picky actor as of late, and filmmakerLynne Ramsayencountered troubles of the worst sort when she walked off the WesternJane Got a Gunon the first day of filming, but the undeniably talented duo are now aiming to team up for a highly promising project. PerScreenDaily(viaThe Playlist), Phoenix is attached to star in an adaptation of theJonathan AmesnovellaYou Were Never Really Here, which Ramsay will write and direct.
The story revolves around a damaged war veteran who now works to rescue women from the sex trafficking trade. When an extraction of a girl from a Manhattan brothel goes south, “a storm of violence and corrupt power is unleashed against him, stirring a vengeance that may be his awakening.” That’s a massively exciting logline when factoring in the talents of Phoenix and Ramsay, and this has quickly become a must-see project.
Ramsay’s credits include 2002’sMorvern Callarand 2011’s phenomenalWe Need to Talk About Kevin, and she was set to tackle the violent Western genre with theNatalie Portman-ledJane Got a Gunbefore creative disputes with producers bubbled to a head, leading to Ramsay departing the project just as filming was set to begin. While that development was certainly disappointing, it’s fantastic to see that she’s getting back in the game, and with someone as endlessly watchable as Phoenix in front of the camera.
The actor flirted with franchise fare recently by entering prolonged negotiations to star in Marvel’sDoctor Strangebefore ultimately deciding the project wasn’t for him. He ledWoody Allen’s underratedIrrational Manlast year and is set to star inCasey Affleck’s WesternFar Bright Star, with a potential turn as Jesus inMary Magdalenealso on the horizon.You Were Never Really Herewould definitely mark another swell entry on his fascinating resume, so here’s hoping the project materializes soon.
