In somewhat shocking Hollywood news, actor Joaquin Phoenix has decided to step away from the big screen. He announced yesterday that Two Lovers with Gwyneth Paltrow and Vinessa Shaw will be his final film, which is scheduled to be released in early 2009.

“This will be my last performance as an actor. I’m not doing films anymore… I’ve been through that. I’ve done it… I’m dead serious.”

The actor is citing his early exit as being a result of his role in Walk The Line in which he played the late, great, Johnny Cash. After being chosen by Johnny Cash himself to star in the amazing bio-pic, Phoenix not only got to play the Man in Black, but actually sing the tunes. After completing the film and becoming fairly competent on the guitar, Phoenix realized that he has a lot of demons that he feels he needs to expel through music. Joaquin Phoenix has been working with Tim Burgess, frontman for the UK group The Charlatans on his debut album.

The two-time Oscar nominee appeared on a red carpet for a charity event with his brother in law, Casey Affleck. When being asked to elaborate, His response was “It’s Casey’s time now.” Not to be mean, but Casey Affleck has been around for quite sometime without showing much skill or anything for people to get excited about. It’s like Michael Jordan christening Mugsy Bogues as the next great NBA center.

Let’s hope that Joaquin Phoenix follows in the footsteps of Kevin Bacon, Eddie Murphy and Billie Bob: Making some suck-ass music only to return to the big screen once again!