Danny Ramirez
The buzz around De Noche is reaching a fever pitch as one of the most anticipated gay cinematic events of the decade.
After a “nightmare” production delay in 2024 when Joaquin Phoenix famously walked away five days before filming, the project has been fully resurrected and is currently shooting.
Pedro Pascal has officially stepped into the role of Richard Rent, the “volatile cop.” He was confirmed for the part in February 2026 and was just spotted filming on location in Mexico City and Guadalajara this week.
Danny Ramirez (Top Gun: Maverick) remains attached to the project as Joe Thomas, the boarding school teacher who becomes the object of Pascal’s character’s desire.
Todd Haynes (Carol, May December) is at the helm, promising his signature lush, stylized aesthetic.
Set in 1930s Los Angeles, the story follows the passionate and unexpected affair between a detective and a teacher.
The duo becomes the target of a corrupt political machine in a city overtaken by vice and on the brink of global war.
Forced to flee the law and the political heat, the two men escape to Mexico, where their romance intensifies against a backdrop of racial exploitation and domestic corruption.
Haynes has doubled down on his intent for the film to be NC-17. He describes it as a “boundary-pushing” and “sexually explicit” testament to the power of desire.
New set photos have leaked showing Pascal in full period costume – think vintage suits, heavy coats, and fedoras – navigating streets filled with 1930s-era classic cars in Mexico City’s historic center.
While there is no firm release date yet, production is moving fast now that financing is secured via French indie studio MK2 Films.
A premiere at a major festival in late 2026 is the current industry speculation.
