The long-delayed 1930s love story is back on track, with the “Last of Us” star in talks to lead opposite Danny Ramirez.
Todd Haynes’ long-paused gay romance De Noche is getting a second chance — and Pedro Pascal may be the star to bring it back to life.
The film, originally set to shoot last year, was left in limbo after Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix reportedly exited the project. According to insiders, Phoenix — who helped bring the story to producer Christine Vachon’s Killer Films — failed to show up on set for two weeks, leading to production being shut down.
Vachon later called the film’s collapse a “tragedy” during the San Sebastian Film Festival, stressing how much the project meant to Haynes and the team.
Now, sources say De Noche is officially being revived, with plans to shoot in Guadalajara, Mexico, starting in the New Year. A major factor in scheduling is Pascal’s jam-packed calendar, which stretches well into 2026. Still, the chance to see the Emmy-nominated actor step into the role has brought new buzz to the long-delayed project.
If signed, Pascal will star opposite Danny Ramirez (Top Gun: Maverick), who has been attached since the beginning. The period romance, set in the 1930s, tells the story of two men who leave Los Angeles for Mexico as they navigate love, identity, and freedom.
For Pascal, the project would mark another high-profile addition to his career. The Last of Us star is up for his second Emmy nomination for Best Actor in a Drama Series this year and also scored a Golden Globe nod in 2024.
He recently teamed with Killer Films on A24’s romantic comedy Materialists, which pulled in $85 million worldwide.
Haynes, celebrated for films like Carol, Velvet Goldmine, and Far From Heaven, has built a career telling bold, queer-centered stories. With De Noche, he returns to the kind of intimate, emotional storytelling that earned him an Oscar nomination for Far From Heaven’s screenplay.
If all goes as planned, De Noche could become one of Pascal’s most daring roles yet — and a long-awaited triumph for Haynes.
