If seems as though Shia LaBeouf’s name is attached to every major project in the works, it’s because the actor’s taken on a bunch of projects within the past year that have generated a lot of attention. LaBeouf recently held the top spot at the box office for a few weeks with the dramatic thriller, Disturbia, and voices the lead role in Sony Pictures Animation’s animated penguin movie, Surf’s Up. He’s also the star of one of the summer’s most anticipated movies, Transformers. And as if he didn’t have enough on his plate to keep him busy, LaBeouf’s got another gigantic film in the works that’s sure to be one of 2008’s biggest films. The much-in-demand actor landed a role opposite Harrison Ford in another hugely anticipated film – Indiana Jones 4 - and at the Surf’s Up junket in Hawaii, he responded to a few questions about the Steven Spielberg film, without giving away any plot details.
LaBeouf spent the months prior to the official announcement of his casting in the fourth Indiana Jones movie responding to questions about his involvement in the film by saying he didn’t have any idea whether he’d be a part of the cast of Indy 4. Now that everything’s confirmed and production is gearing up, LaBeouf still isn’t sure about his character and what exactly he’ll be doing in the film. Asked if he’s happy with the way his character’s evolved, LaBeouf answered, “I still haven’t read the script.” So much for getting any juicy tidbits about the plot…
Getting the opportunity to work with Oscar-winner Steven Spielberg is something LaBeouf’s really looking forward to. LaBeouf said he doesn't believe he'll be questioning Spielberg’s judgment on any aspects of the film. “You just say, ‘Yeah, all right, great. That sounds like a good thing to me.’ And [George] Lucas isn’t involved as Spielberg with the actors, it’s all Steven. But I don’t imagine I’ll be questioning anything he says. Of course you have to find your voice as an artist, you have to have the tools. You’ve got to have some say. But I don’t imagine it’s going to be very easy to say, ‘You know Steven, I don’t think that’s correct. I think I should do it that way.’ I don’t know. We’re still trying to figure it out. We haven’t gotten in any rehearsals. It’s just been a lot of stunt rehearsals and weapons training and stuff like that.”
As of late May 2007, LaBeouf was heavily involved in training to prepare for the film. Being extremely careful not to give anything away, LaBeouf couldn’t reveal exactly what he’s training to do, but did say things are going great and he expects filming will begin later this month.
LaBeouf’s looking forward to using his success in larger budgeted mainstream projects to help get his smaller movies funded. The actor said there are a few pet projects he’s working on. “None of them are fully developed to the point where I’d want to start tell you guys about it,” said LaBeouf. “But, yeah, there are a handful of things that you start…especially when something like Disturbia happens, it’s one of those things you think about. You go, ‘Oh, okay, your movie opened and the industry will let you make a small little movie. So, start coming up with ideas.’ So, you start brainstorming with your team and people start finding books and other things and properties that you are involved in. Or life stories that you are really interested in.”
