Joaquin Phoenix and Robert De Niro clashed on the set of 'Joker' over rehearsals: 'He’s got to be there'
While Todd Phillips' 'Joker' swept through the award season and earned the praise of audience and critic alike, the filming brought with it certain complications, including tensions between Joaquin Phoenix and Robert De Niro.
Phoenix had been cast to play the lead, Arthur Fleck, a failed stand-up comedian who slowly descends into madness and inspires a violent counter-cultural revolution, while De Niro was in the supporting role of Murray Franklin, a TV show host who antagonizes and inspires Fleck's metamorphosis.
Their alleged altercation unfolded during what was supposed to be the table read for the film, which is when the entire cast and the crew come together to read through the entire script so everyone has an idea of the story and not just their scenes.
Phoenix is notorious for his refusal to rehearse for his roles because he reportedly feels it makes him "secure" and that goes against his method of acting where he needs to feel the anxiety of his character to deliver a standout performance. It's also why he hates read-throughs.
On the other hand, De Niro is very insistent on them, which is why when Phoenix did not show up on the sets, he was annoyed.
The two-time Academy Award-winner then called up Phillips and demanded that he show up.
"Tell him he’s an actor and he’s got to be there," he is said to have told the director. "I like to hear the whole movie and we’re going to all get in a room and just read it."
When Phoenix heard about the demand, he did not comply and doubled down. "There’s no f***ing way I’m doing a read-through," he responded.
Eventually, however, the actors decided to strike a compromise. Phoenix went to De Niro's company's offices in New York for a read-through, but even then, did not give it his all and just mumble along before abruptly going to a corner taking a smoke break.
De Niro then invited him to his office to talk, but Phoenix refused and said he felt sick and that he didn't want to.
At Phillips' urging, he reluctantly agreed and the two actors cleared the air, with De Niro reportedly taking Phoenix’s face into his hands and kissing him on the cheek and telling him, "It’s going to be OK, bubbeleh."
But Phoenix's refusal to cooperate wasn't him showing De Niro disrespect — by his own admission, he has been his favorite American actor since his brother brought home a VHS of 'Raging Bull.' It's more to do with his struggle with anxiety.
Despite all his years of experience in Hollywood, before each of his roles, he still gets crippling anxiety that afflicts him for weeks before the shooting starts. The day before, he gets physically sick, and for the first three weeks of the shooting, he sweats so much they have to put pads in his armpits.
His shyness is not an act either. James Gray, who has directed Phoenix in four films, shared that the actor vomited when they were waiting for a television interview backstage.
Phoenix himself admitted he's not the best coworker during his acceptance speech for 'Best Actor' at the Academy Awards in February, telling the audience, "I have been a scoundrel all my life. I’ve been selfish. I’ve been cruel at times, hard to work with, and I’m grateful that so many of you in this room have given me a second chance."
