Writer/director James Gray has not yet express any sort of physical love for Joaquin Phoenix, but I wouldn’t be too surprised to hear about any day now. Other than his 1994 debut film Little Odessa, Gray has declined to make a movie unless Joaquin can be in it. Variety says that their third consecutive teaming will be for the aptly named Two Lovers.

Phoenix and Gray first came together for The Yards in 2000. Mark Whalberg also starred in that movie and the three formed a menage-a-tois for the upcoming We Own the Night as well. Sensing that three is sometimes a crowd, Whalberg has not been invited along for Two Lovers, but Gwyneth Paltrow is in negotiations to join the cast.

We Own the Night looks excellent and I’m always happy to see either Phoenix or Whalberg (but clearly not as happy as Gray.) Two Lovers is about a Brooklyn man who is attracted to a volatile neighbor rather than the woman his parents want him to marry. This doesn’t sound as good and Paltrow’s involvement makes it less so, but Phoenix is usually good, so time will tell.