Joaquin Phoenix BioSnap a weekly updated Biography.

Joaquin Phoenix has been a steady presence in the headlines this August, mixing career milestones with reflections on past controversies and personal relationships. Earlier this week, the actor made his first appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert since his infamous 2009 Letterman interview, when he stayed in character from I’m Still Here and left both host and viewers confused about his state of mind. On Colbert, Phoenix apologized candidly, admitting the Letterman stunt was “horrible” and sharing that it spiraled well beyond what he intended. Collider and IMDb note that Phoenix described feeling trapped in the prank but unable to break character, directly addressing the longstanding media speculation about his mental health at that time.

At the same time, Phoenix’s professional life has hit significant turning points. Eddington, the new Ari Aster satire where Phoenix stars alongside Pedro Pascal, Austin Butler, and Emma Stone, debuted in the US with only a $4 million box office start, far below expectations for its $35 to $50 million budget, as reported by Box Office Mojo and Variety. The film, described as provocative and divisive, is being widely promoted on social, with the official Eddington account and related outlets urging moviegoers to catch “the showdown of the summer.” There’s growing chatter about the film, but its tepid opening may be a blip or a sign that audiences are divided over Aster’s boundary-pushing style.

Phoenix’s influence as a performer and public voice is also drawing renewed attention. Last week, while discussing activism and fame, Tod Bins for Tejerosles called attention to Phoenix’s unique position as an outspoken Hollywood figure, a context relevant given his sudden and shocking exit from the Todd Haynes project—an ambitious period love story set in 1930s LA. Variety reported that Phoenix’s role was so central that after his departure, the production unraveled spectacularly, sending shockwaves through the indie film world and leaving major stakeholders and a full crew adrift. Phoenix’s own silence about the exit, deflecting questions at the Venice Film Festival, has only deepened the mystery and solidified the episode as an industry cautionary tale. Producer Christine Vachon went public to admit that the fallout has left even established producers rattled about the volatility of star-driven projects.

Offscreen, Phoenix gave a rare and heartfelt interview about his late brother River on Theo Von’s podcast, as recounted by Parade. Talking openly about River’s enduring influence and role as a “guiding light” in the Phoenix family, he shared memories rarely discussed, offering a glimpse into the still-powerful bond decades after River’s death.

Making nostalgia news, Phoenix recently revealed on Rick Rubin’s Tetragrammaton podcast that he was once considered for the Joker role in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight, years before his Oscar-winning turn in Todd Phillips’ Joker. Phoenix recalled meeting Nolan and sensing it wasn’t his time, and he openly credited Heath Ledger’s iconic portrayal, noting he felt he “shouldn’t do this.” The revelation, carried by AOL, added another layer to his complicated legacy with the Joker character.

So while the latest developments span box office numbers, long-standing regrets, and career what-ifs, Joaquin Phoenix has spent this week solidifying his reputation as one of Hollywood’s most enigmatic, self-aware, and newsworthy leading men.

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