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Shia LaBeouf was starring in what would have been his Broadway debut alongside Alec Baldwin and Tom Sturridge until yesterday, when the actor dropped out of Lyle Kessler’s play because of creative differences. Then came the fun part, when LaBeouf took to his Twitter feed to show off emails allegedly sent between him, Baldwin, Kessler and director Daniel Sullivan that ran the gamut from apologies to rantings, including Baldwin and LaBeouf promising not to talk bad about each other and LaBeouf mentioning putting his fist through a door during rehearsals (“i’m a child dont mind me”, he wrote to Kessler). He also posted his audition video. Now it is Ben Foster (The Messenger) stepping into the fray, taking on LaBeouf’s role of Treat. (For the record, LaBeouf tweeted today: BEN FOSTER IS A BEAST. HE WILL KILL IT.) Foster was front-and-center at Sundance last month, starring as William Burroughs in Kill Your Darlings and as a deputy in Ain’t Them Body Saints. He next stars on the big screen opposite Mark Wahlberg in Peter Berg’s SEAL Team 10 tale Lone Survivor from Universal. Despite all of the drama, previews on Orphans still are set to begin March 19 and opening night is April 7 at the Schoenfeld Theatre.
Ben Foster Joins ‘Orphans’ Replacing Shia LaBeouf, Who Didn’t Leave Quietly
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Am sure Alec is taking it all in stride.
Creative differences? Shia, you’re an actor, not a director. He seems to have a toxic personality. I’d never trust anyone again, once they disclosed private email conversations. That’s a huge no no.
He and Dan Harmon should team up on project about public disclosure of private communications!
Shia is an artist. Never heard of Sullivan.
“Shia is an artist” Funniest thing I’ve read on Deadline in a long time.
Daniel Sullivan is brilliant. He was a former Shakespearean actor, and he is one of the best theatre directors in the business. I saw his direction of Broadway’s Proof, and both of his productions of Shakespeare In The Parks’ Merchant of Venice ( with Al Pacino ) and Twelfth Night ( with Audra McDonald & Anne Hathaway ) – all great productions. Sullivan is one of the most beloved and acclaimed artists in the NY theatre community. Trust me, every theatre thespian wants to be directed by Daniel. Shia LeBeouf is not a well-regarded actor, so he should never trash anyone. Bottom Line.
Daniel Sullivan is the leading theater director of his generation. Has a closetful of Tonys. Why advertise your ignorance?
I’ve started seeing Sullivan’s work just over a decade ago and absolutely agree, he’s a fantastic director who has sometimes made plays work in spite of themselves (looking at you, “Good People).
That said, the 72 year-old only has one Tony in his closet (“Proof” – well-deserved) after seven nominations. When you see his stuff, you assume a shelf full of Tonys, but in truth, he has the reputation of being more likely to direct actors to Tonys than himself!
Is Shia referring to himself in third person again?
At this point Shia I think it’d be a good idea to stop posting comments on this story. You’re not helping yourself….
still a child actor I see
perfect.
Every time Shia does something like this the movie Holes becomes more prophetic.
Shia was a mess on the “Lawless” set as well, get it together, kid.
Watch 2 minutes of his audition video posted up top and tell me he’s not an incredible actor.
His audition video is truly good
I watched a good deal more than two minutes, but it doesn’t tell me what it seems to tell you. I see someone who’s very good at conversational naturalism, and who has access to fiery emotions. Both are useful and crucial tools. Does that mean he has any ability to project his camera-sized naturalism past a second row of seats, and have it still appear natural? Or to harness, and calibrate, and repeat those emotions over the course of four weeks of rehearsal, and several more weeks of a theatrical run? Because that’s the job description of stage actor, and not everyone’s got those skills, even if they’re fascinating in close up, and/or every second or third take.
I left something important out. I also see someone who feels the need to publish private correspondence for the world to read, and to broadcast his audition video as if he were a novice trying to prove a point, as opposed to a major film star capable of behaving discretely within a high stakes, high cost industry. Those are also pretty serious liabilities when it comes to sharing a rehearsal room, and stage, and green room with others for weeks.
A great Broadway director once told me, “I cast people I can live with for six months.”
First of all, I didn’t see any second takes in that video. If he can bring that kind of emotion and passion into an audition, imagine what he could do on a Broadway stage when the stakes are at their highest. So it’s too bad that for now, we won’t know how he translates from the screen to the stage.
As for how the situation was publicized, outsiders like you and I will never know what really went on with their “creative differences”. At least by posting his audition video we know that the reason for him leaving was definitely not due to his skill as an actor. But as I read it, he still has nothing but respect and praise for everyone involved. And Ben Foster is another amazing actor in my book.
Snake out.
Couldn’t agree more Snake
I get your point about it being one take. As to imagining what he could do on a Broadway stage, I can imagine a lot of people in the back orchestra and balconies complaining that they can’t hear him whenever he’s not screaming. To each their own, I suppose.
M out…? I guess.
I hope Foster wins a Tony.
I have nothing against Shia LeBeouf, I had been considering him a promising talent long before his big Transformers-break and hoped that when the dust settles, he will at least attempt challenging himself professionally.
BUT
from the outside, it most certainly looks like Shia LeBeouf’s biggest enemy is Shia LeBeouf. Fine, he realizes he hates a few of his films (Transformers 2, Indiana Jones 4), but why would he bite the hand that feeds him by trashing them ON RECORD ? Fine, he had it with studio films, but does he honestly have to make a public statement about how awful doing those really is in HIS opinion ? Fine, a Broadway gig didn’t work out because of heated arguments, but does he really have to put personal e-mails from the cast and crew on the bloody internet ? Can’t he see how utterly unprofessional all that is ? Can’t he see how the things he seems to get so upset about are champagne problems and he should just appreciate the many, many gifts and opportunities this industry provided him even if he decides to go in a different direction ? How many would kill for the exposure a lead in a Michael Bay film can guarantee ? How many would kill for a chance to work with Steven Spielberg ? How many would kill for a role on Broadway ? How many would kill to be in ANY studio film ?
I applaud that he was brave enough to break away from the obviously very comfortable tentpole universe and opted for more diverse, daring and divisive projects like Lawless, The Company You Keep, The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman, Nymphomaniac, because even if not all of these films will work, at least he took artistic risks, and without those he could never become a true artist, a level I don’t think he reached yet, but one he might in time.
It’s great to see that he seemingly takes his craft now very seriously, that’s why it is frustrating that he still comes off remarkably unprofessional. I know he made it big at a very young age, and that might have been an excuse for his whining, spoiled child behaviour a few years ago, but it won’t fly now. Long story short, he is still young, he still has a lot to learn. He has to learn how to express himself in a respectful way when he has a problem, how to be effectively collaborative when ‘creative differences’ arise, how to take the high road when things don’t work out and how to appreciate and respect the ones who work so hard for his success like for example Steven Spielberg whose film he felt the need to trash publicly.
Bottom line : In every profession, humility is key. It’s time for him to get familiar with the concept.
Shia, if you can’t win a public relations war with Alec Baldwin, then you need a new publicist. Twitter is free, and let’s agree that you got way more than you paid for. Silence is golden.
Just to bet back to the subject of Daniel Sullivan (the director of ORPHANS) as most film people will not know of his reputation as a theatre director. The man has guided five (5!) different plays to Pulitzer Prizes for their authors: Wendy Wasserstein (THE HEIDI CHRONICLES), Donald Margulies (DINNER WITH FRIENDS), David Lindsay-Abaire (RABBIT HOLE), David Auburn (PROOF) and John Patrick Shanley (DOUBT). That’s skill, not luck.
Thank you, Mike Haber. I couldn’t agree more.
Just one point. He is not young. I consider the twenties still young, but he is in his thirties and should no longer be acting immaturely. By your thirties you do not have it all together, I know, but you should have enough together to not be so insecure as to scuttle your own career by tantrums or publicly undermining your fellow industry members due to your own insecurity.
Trade one horrible “actor” for another whatever