Will Joaquin Phoenix Come Out of Retirement for Scientology Movie?

By Moviefone Editors Posted Apr 16th 2011 10:28AM

What would it take for Joaquin Phoenix to come out of retirement?

Despite speculation earlier this year that Phoenix would resume his once-hot acting career with a film adaptation of 'Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter' (the 2010 novel by Seth Grahame-Smith), the actor is now being linked to a much more controversial project.

And if there's one thing Phoenix seems to relish, it's controversy!

Phoenix -- whose last film was the outrageous, head-scratching mockumentary 'I'm Still Here' -- is now rumored to be reversing his retirement plans to co-star in Paul Thomas Anderson's much-anticipated movie taking aim at Scientology.

According to New York magazine, Oscar nominee Jeremy Renner ('The Hurt Locker') had originally been slated for a role that, thanks to financing delays, may now end up reviving Phoenix's career.

In the script, Philip Seymour Hoffman is set to co-star as a charismatic, manipulative leader (fashioned after Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard) who founds a new religious movement in the 1950's. Now Variety reports that Phoenix may step in to portray an alcoholic drifter who becomes the right-hand man to Hoffman's character, but develops doubts about his mentor.

After Phoenix's long, bizarre experiment as a bearded rapper was filmed by 'I'm Still Here' director Casey Affleck (and then failed to wow fans and critics), the Oscar nominee, 36, tiptoed back into the public eye in January, as part of an online video in support of suicide prevention.

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Tags: joaquin phoenix, JoaquinPhoenix, Paul Thomas Anderson, scientology

Comments

(14)

Saturday 16 April

By Lor

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Love ya Phoenix, can't wait to see you in a movie. You are a great actor, Gladiator,Walk the line were my favorite. Please make more movies!!!!!!!

By Nicole

You are the best actor!!!!

By goatcars2

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I'm sure he's much too busy with his skyrocketing rapper career to be bothered making movies.

By Bubbles

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He is staring in a movie about WEIRDOLOGY.

By acbobbyb

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OMG is he still alive????? That joqer feenex just won't go away. I speak for ALL of us when I say.......PLEASE go away.

By ugoaway

ahhhhh, glad not everyone feels the same way as you...I hope he keeps making more movies & we get Joaquin overkill.

Sunday 01 May

By ok

No,you just speak for those who don't know what real talent is,therefore they can't appreciate it .This guy is may be a bit crazy,but he's one hell of an actor.Probably the best of today.I don't care what he does with his personal life but he definitely needs to be making movies again.

By Ted

Anything that mocks Scientology is worth seeing. Look forward to it, I've always liked his acting.

By cac006006

I always liked him in movies. I hope he gets a decent role and gets his career going again.

By moss adams

Do it Phoenix...you are missed.

By Suzanne

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Didn't he already do that, in Signs?

Sunday 17 April

By Ace

I think he's an amazing actor and perfect for this part.Ill definitely go see it.