Has Joaquin Phoenix Been Outed as a Hoaxster?

Report calls Casey Affleck film about Phoenix's rap career a "mockumentary"

For a while now, we've heard all about how Joaquin Phoenix's exit from Hollywood and entry into rap was being documented in a documentary by Casey Affleck.

So, imagine the surprise that came with today's Deadline.com story about the film: "Buyers See Joaquin Phoenix Mockumentary."

Mockumentary? An in, Spinal Tap? As in, total fiction? As in, have we been punked?  

To answer the last question first, you weren't punked if you never bought that Phoenix's bearded space-cadet act—as seen on David Letterman, and on the stage of a Vegas club—was legit.

As for the big question: Was Phoenix's pursuit of rap all for show? We reached out to Phoenix's and Affleck's respective reps for comment, but haven't heard back.

Notably, despite its word choice, Deadline.com itself doesn't sound 100 percent positive about Phoenix's intentions. "Presumably," the site says, "the film answers Hollywood's bewilderment about whether [Joaquin] was serious about quitting acting—or whether he was just, well, acting."

Before going deep underground, Phoenix insisted his pursuit of rap was "not a hoax." On the other hand, Phoenix is a very good actor. And over the last several months, the two-time Oscar nominee has resurfaced, sans the Jim Morrison disguise, and rapper pose, first alongside Miley Cyrus in an anti-suicide PSA and later at an Oscar party.

On the other other hand, even more than a year-and-a-half into his career detour, Phoenix has yet to announce a new movie project.

Unless you count the documentary, er, mockumentary, er… Maybe we should wait and see the thing first .