Pedro Pascal Steps Into Todd Haynes’ ‘De Noche’ as the Film Officially Gets Back on Track
After a period of uncertainty, Todd Haynes’ long-anticipated romance De Noche is officially moving forward. As first confirmed by Variety, Pedro Pascal has signed on to replace Joaquin Phoenix in the lead role, with MK2 Films now financing the production. For a project that once seemed destined to fade away, this update feels nothing short of a cinematic revival, and a major moment for queer storytelling on a prestige scale.
When De Noche was first announced, it immediately caught our attention for pairing Todd Haynes with a noir-inspired queer love story led by Danny Ramírez and Joaquin Phoenix. However, Phoenix exited the project ahead of production, a move that caused the film to temporarily stall as financing was closely tied to his involvement. For a moment, it seemed like De Noche might not recover from that setback. Thankfully, time—and the right collaborators—have proven otherwise. With Pascal now stepping into the role and MK2 Films backing the production, the film is officially back on track, with cameras set to roll next month.
Set in 1930s Los Angeles, De Noche centers on a passionate and dangerous romance between a hard-boiled detective, played by Pascal, and a boarding school teacher portrayed by Ramírez. According to Variety, the film draws inspiration from classic noir while grounding its story in a deeply queer emotional core. As corruption tightens its grip on the city and global tensions rise, the two men find themselves targeted by powerful political forces, eventually forcing them to flee to Mexico in order to survive and stay together. It’s a narrative steeped in desire, fear, and resistance, all themes Haynes has explored masterfully throughout his career.
Haynes, who co-wrote the screenplay with longtime collaborator Jon Raymond, described the film as emerging from an era marked by “domestic corruption, racial exploitation and global terror,” while still standing as “a testament to the inexplicable powers of desire and love” (Variety). Coming from a filmmaker whose work has long centered queer longing, repression, and intimacy, De Noche feels like a natural and thrilling extension of his filmography.
The project also marks Pascal’s first collaboration with Haynes, adding another compelling chapter to the actor’s already impressive balance of blockbuster and prestige work. With MK2 Films joining Killer Films and a strong producing team behind the scenes, De Noche finally has the support it needs to move forward. We’ll be keeping a close eye on this one and will continue to share updates as more details are revealed, but for now, we’re just glad this queer love story is finally getting its moment.
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Featured Image: Images via EFE and Image Press Agency. Photos by Andy Rain and Collin Xavier
