Producer Christine Vachon has praised Pedro Pascal and Danny Ramirez as “born to play” their roles in Todd Haynes’ revived queer romance, De Noche. Her comments matter because the film was thought to have collapsed after Joaquin Phoenix left during production in 2024, but has since been rescued with Pascal taking the lead.

Vachon said Phoenix’s departure was devastating at the time, though she now believes the recasting and a move from Guadalajara to Mexico City have improved the project creatively. The film follows two men in the 1930s who begin an intense relationship and leave Los Angeles for Mexico; Pascal replaced Phoenix last August, while Ramirez remained attached.