Todd Haynes' upcoming film 'De Noche' has found its lead in Pedro Pascal, following Joaquin Phoenix's departure last year. The subversive love story, set in 1930s Los Angeles, will begin shooting next month with financing from MK2 Films. Pascal will play a hard-boiled detective opposite Danny Ramirez as his younger lover.
Todd Haynes' project 'De Noche' is moving forward after a setback, with Pedro Pascal confirmed to take the lead role previously held by Joaquin Phoenix. The film, a screenplay co-written by Haynes and his longtime collaborator Jon Raymond, draws inspiration from classic noir films like 'Chinatown.' It follows the unexpected romance between a cop, portrayed by Pascal, and a boarding school teacher, played by Danny Ramirez, amid corruption in 1930s Los Angeles on the eve of global war. The two characters become targets of the city's political machine and must flee to Mexico.
This marks Pascal's first team-up with Haynes, the director whose recent work 'May December' received an Oscar nomination for best screenplay. Pascal, known for balancing big-studio roles in Marvel's 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' with indie projects like A24's 'Materialists' and 'Eddington,' brings star power to the production. Haynes, an outspoken activist, described the story as emerging from "an era — all too relevant to our own — of domestic corruption, racial exploitation and global terror." He added that it serves as "a testament to the inexplicable powers of desire and love to survive and overcome even the most crippling of human barriers."
MK2 Films, the Paris-based company behind films such as Joachim Trier's 'Sentimental Value' and Kleber Mendonça Filho's 'The Secret Agent,' is financing 'De Noche' and managing international sales, while co-representing domestic rights with Cinetic Media. Producers include Killer Films' Christine Vachon and Pamela Koffler, alongside Paloma Negra Films and MK2's Jonathan Montepare and Steven Demmler. Additional financing comes from IPR.VC, Yggdrasil, Léger Production, Mid March, Pluto, and Leaf Entertainment.
Fionnuala Jamison, managing director of MK2 Films, praised Haynes' ability to connect with audiences, citing 'Carol' and 'Far from Heaven' as examples of his lasting emotional impact. She noted that 'De Noche,' with its strong cast led by Pascal, stands out as a project they are eager to present to buyers at the European Film Market in Berlin.
