Producer Christine Vachon said Pedro Pascal is “a revelation” in Todd Haynes’ reworked gay romance De Noche, which is now in post-production after Joaquin Phoenix withdrew shortly before filming. Speaking at the Edinburgh Film Festival, Vachon joked that she preferred Pascal to Phoenix, while stressing that Phoenix’s departure had initially been devastating because it prevented Haynes from making the film that year.

Vachon said restarting the project allowed the team to secure a better filming location and cast Pascal, whom she knew through Materialists; she also praised co-star Danny Ramirez. She discussed wider changes in independent and queer cinema, saying online communities now help filmmakers reach audiences in ways previously achieved through physical LGBTQ venues, while noting disruption and political division in the US.