Recent images shared from the set of the new film, Disappointment Blvd., showcase Joaquin Phoenix’s remarkable transformation. The upcoming film, directed by the same mind behind Midsommar, has no official release date, but filming for Disappointment Blvd. began in June in Montreal. Details of the plot have been kept quiet, with producers only revealing that the main arc will follow the life of a successful entrepreneur through the decades, seemingly covering his claim to fame to his ultimate downfall or vice versa.

Oscar-winning actor Joaquin Phoenix was the first to be added to the cast list in February, with Nathan Lane, Patti LuPone, Kylie Rogers, and Amy Ryan being added in June. It’s unknown whether A24 production company or Aster will announce more details about the story before or after filming is wrapped in October. Still, even with so little information, the unveiled images of Phoenix are enough to get people guessing.

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Photos released by the Daily Mail capture Phoenix's character for the film’s lead role, Beau, on set amid filming. The 46-year-old was snapped standing barefoot in the middle of Sainte-Catherine Street, wearing only a pair of baggy, beige pants. He appears to have gained some weight for the role, showing off his bare chest and left his grey hair untamed and disheveled. As cameras rolled, additional images showed the vegan actor running across the road to talk to another actor on set.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE DISAPPOINTMENT BLVD. SET PHOTOS

Joaquin Phoenix gazing out of a window in Her

From his appearance, Phoenix looks to be portraying an older man who is troubled and distressed, with the filming photos depicting a scene where he is frantically crossing a road, unaware of the dangers from oncoming traffic. He is also dressed inappropriately for the outdoors, with very little clothing on his body, suggesting that he has possibly come into some financial trouble. His new look is the only indicator of the type of story Disappointment Blvd. could narrate, with his character’s current appearance encapsulating the idea of disappointment and regret.

Joaquin Phoenix is no stranger to drastically changing his appearance for a role. Most notably, he lost a staggering 52lbs to play Arthur Fleck/Joker in the 2019 origin story, Joker. Though he had to go on a strict diet regime to quickly drop the pounds to turn into the frail and thin character, the theatrical release won him an Oscar in 2020 for Best Actor. These vast biological and physiological changes prove that Phoenix is dedicated to his profession and fully commits himself to his roles, regardless of the difficult decisions he has to make for his body. However, constantly bouncing back and forth in weight is dangerous. Phoenix’s track record of sacrificing his health to better match the expectation of a part is a risky move that, hopefully, he feels pays off in his portrayal of Beau in Ari Aster’s Disappointment Blvd.

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Source: Daily Mail