Shia LaBeouf Back in NECESSARY DEATH OF CHARLIE COUNTRYMAN
Shia LaBeouf has rejoined The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman, which has brought the long-gestating project back to life. Variety reports that Voltage Productions and Bona Fide Productions have begun pre-production on the film. At one time Zac Efron was attached to star when the project was at Mandate Pictures. Acclaimed commercial helmer Fredrik Bond is directing a Black List script by Matt Drake (Project X).
LaBeouf initially joined the project in 2010 but had to drop out due to scheduling issues. The "gritty pulp romance follows a normal guy (LaBeouf) who falls for a woman who has been claimed by a violent crime boss."
Albert Berger and Ron Xerxa (Little Miss Sunshine) are producing for Bona Fide, along with Bill Horberg (The Kite Runner), while Craig J. Flores (300) will produce for Voltage, and Nicolas Chartier (The Hurt Locker) will executive produce.
Here is what Flores had to say about LaBeouf joining the film officially:
"After our fantastic experience collaborating with Shia on 'The Company You Keep,' I jumped at the idea of working with him again on 'Charlie Countryman. The spark in this amazing script, mixed with Shia's pure talent and Fredrik's masterful ability to create an elevated love story we just can't get enough of -- will redefine pulp romance."
LaBeouf will next be seen in John Hillcoat's bootlegging drama The Wettest County and Robert Redford's political thriller The Company You Keep. Not everyone is a fan of LaBeouf, but I think his next two films sound very promising. Now that Transformers is behind him, he can hopefully continue to make better choices.
What are your thoughts?