Pedro Pascal Joins Todd Haynes for 1930s Queer Romance 'De Noche'

Pedro Pascal has been confirmed as the new lead in De Noche, the upcoming queer romantic drama from acclaimed filmmaker Todd Haynes. The actor replaces Joaquin Phoenix, who exited the project shortly before filming was due to begin.

Set in the 1930s, the film follows a detective and a boarding school teacher whose relationship forces them to flee Los Angeles and seek refuge in Mexico.

Joaquin Phoenix’s Sudden Exit

De Noche was originally scheduled to begin production in 2024, but plans were abruptly halted when Phoenix withdrew from the project just days before cameras were set to roll. No official explanation was ever given for his departure, leaving the film temporarily in limbo.

Pascal’s casting signals a major step forward for the long-delayed production, marking the first time the actor will collaborate with Haynes.

Pedro Pascal and Danny Ramirez to Lead the Film

According to industry reports, Pascal will portray the detective at the center of the story, opposite Danny Ramirez as his younger lover. Ramirez, who plays a boarding school teacher in the film, joins Pascal in what is shaping up to be one of the most high-profile queer romances in recent period cinema.

The pairing represents a significant moment for both actors, particularly for Pascal, whose career has increasingly intersected with projects exploring identity and power.

Todd Haynes on Desire, Love, and Political Parallels

Haynes has spoken about the themes driving De Noche, framing the story as both historically grounded and strikingly contemporary.

This story, with Pedro Pascal and Danny Ramirez in the two leads, arises out of an era - one that feels all too relevant to our own—marked by domestic corruption, racial exploitation, and global terror.

He added that the film ultimately centers on resilience. 

It becomes a testament to the inexplicable power of desire and love to survive and overcome even the most devastating human barriers.

Haynes, an outspoken activist, has long used cinema to interrogate systems of repression, particularly through queer perspectives.

A Busy Stretch for Pedro Pascal

Pascal arrives on De Noche following an exceptionally active year. In 2025, he appeared in Céline Song’s Materialists, Ari Aster’s Eddington, and Marvel’s Fantastic Four: First Steps, further cementing his status as one of the most in-demand actors working today.

The role also continues Pascal’s growing presence in prestige dramas with strong political and emotional undercurrents.

Danny Ramirez’s Rising Profile

Ramirez, meanwhile, has steadily built momentum in both film and television. He is best known for portraying Joaquin Torres in Captain America: Brave New World and previously appeared in Top Gun: Maverick.

He also shared the screen with Pascal in the second season of The Last of Us, making De Noche a reunion of sorts for the two actors.

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