So Joaquin Phoenix was absolutely serious when he wrote out “Bye Good” on his knuckles and stumbled down the red carpet for what will be his last film, Two Lovers. Joaquin is quitting the business – no more acting, no more Oscar nominations, no more having to work with Gwyneth Paltrow. But he still wants to be in front of the camera for some reason – as the subject of a documentary, filmed by his long-time friend Casey Affleck.

Casey Affleck will get behind a camera lens to track the musical career of fellow actor Joaquin Phoenix, who portrayed Johnny Cash in “Walk the Line.”

Affleck is directing a documentary feature on his friend and brother-in-law Phoenix, who in the fall announced his retirement from the thespian business in order to focus on a music career.

Phoenix is embarking on a new path as a rapper, with an album to be produced by Sean Combs. He is scheduled to make his first public performance Friday at a Las Vegas club, which will officially kick off Affleck’s shoot.

Affleck is known for his work in front of the camera with movies like “Gone Baby Gone,” “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford” and the “Ocean’s Eleven” series. He directed a series of shorts for Sundance Channel in the late 1990s. He is married to Summer Phoenix, sister of his new film subject.

[From Reuters/Hollywood Reporter]

Oh, God. A rap career? Produced by Puffy? How in God’s name did this happen? Joaquin has two (deserved) Oscar nominations, one for Best Supporting Actor for playing the corrupt and morally bankrupt emperor in Gladiator. The second nomination was for his amazing portrait of Johnny Cash in Walk the Line, for which Joaquin took musical and singing classes. In my mind, a career in some sort of western-pop-rock music wouldn’t be so far off base for Joaquin, but a rap career? Please no. However, I bet the documentary will be really juicy – and sad.

Header image of Joaquim Phoenix and Casey Affleck at the reading of “The World Of Nick Adams” to Honor Paul Newman on October 27th. Images thanks to Splash.