He is going to play a saint to - perhaps - redeem a conscience.
Shia LaBeouf tries his return to the cinema after accusations of sexual harassment.
He will play Padre Pio in director Abel Ferrara's new film.
The 70-year-old filmmaker tells
Variety
that the 35-year-old former Disney Channel star will be playing the lead role in his next film, which will focus on the life of the Italian Capuchin and priest.
Willem Dafoe, a friend and longtime collaborator of the filmmaker, will also play a small role in the film.
Read also: Shia LaBeouf, love and violence
“We are preparing a film on Padre Pio, a monk from Puglia. The story takes place in Italy, just after the First World War. He lived at a time when the political climate was very tense in the world. He was a young monk before he became a saint, and Shia LaBeouf will play that part of his life, ”
says Abel Ferrara.
Padre Pio was born under the name of Francesco Forgione in southern Italy in 1887. He became famous for having borne stigmata, that is, his skin had wounds reminiscent of those of Jesus after his crucifixion.
Died in 1968 at the age of 81, he was beatified in 1999 by Pope John Paul II, then canonized in 2002. Abel Ferrara has already made a short documentary on this religious personality.
To read also: Palm of the cuteness: the daughter of Abel Ferrara melts the photographers of Cannes
As for him, Shia LaBeouf experienced in 2020 in trouble with the law.
In October, he was convicted of two offenses - assault and pilferage - after stealing a hat from a man during an altercation.
Two months later, his former girlfriend, singer FKA Twigs, publicly accused Shia LaBeouf of physical and psychological abuse.
Another ex-girlfriend joined the complaint, and also claimed to have been
"abused"
by Shia LaBeouf.
His girlfriend in
"a dangerous situation"
“It's a miracle that I came out alive
, explained the British singer to the
American
Elle
in February, when she was questioned about her relationship with the actor.
I felt intense fear and shame.
I was evaporating from people's lives.
If you don't tell your friends or family about it, then no one can tell you that you are in a dangerous situation. ”
In May, the judge ordered Shia LaBeouf to undergo psychotherapy and workshops to learn how to manage his anger, wear a device to measure his alcohol consumption, and submit to unannounced screenings.
To read also: Abel Ferrara: "I am not an anti-Semite"
Abel Ferrera plans to start filming in Puglia at the end of October. He explains to
Variety
that the film will be
"more important"
than many of his previous achievements, and adds that he worked on it for
"a very long time"
. With the arrival of Shia LaBeouf, the film is now
"all set"
for filming.
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