Shia LaBeouf & Alec Baldwin to Lead ORPHANS on Broadway

[Jordan Catalano]

Shia LaBeouf is this seasons Patton Oswalt.

[FindingNamo]

I don't like boys in their mid-20s pontificating about what it means to be a man, for the most part.

[newintown]

"Why are you all being so mean to him?"

You know, you're right. Who are we to say we find any actor uninteresting? Who are we to make any comment on a public figure's behavior?

We should adore and praise them all! From here on out, there shall be only positive statements (no matter what you may actually believe...)!

[DeNada]

Who on earth TALKS like the people in these e-mails? They all sound crazy. Why don't they talk like real people, in normal sentences with structure and meaning, instead of rambling like they're stoned? Is becoming a "star" contingent on incoherency?

I don't know what else to say. Whatever the situation it's unfortunate for the production, but the whole thing is bizarre.

[newintown]

"Is becoming a "star" contingent on incoherency?"

I think so, yes.

[SporkGoddess]

I can never understand what Shia is saying in movies, either. Dude does not enunciate.

[Johnnycantdecide]

I'm just waiting for Michael Riedel article...

[Owen22]

Don't be an ass, New, or any more of an ass than you already are.

Though maybe I should have asked the question more astutely. What gives you people a reason to be so mean toward him? What has he done to merit it. No one is calling out Alec Baldwin, who has said some HEINOUS things in the past, over this. You're just assuming this boy is a "douche" for maybe caring too much? Has he done things previous to this worse than Baldwin that I don't know of? His soul kinda shown through on his audition tape, and it moved me. I can't imagine someone like that deserving the awful things that are being said about him in this thread.

[newintown]

You call people "mean" for merely expressing an opinion, and I'm an ass? (Just verifying your values.)

If you want to know about LaBeouf's bad boy stuff, it's all out there, and available, by the way. Nothing new or hidden.

[AC126748]

If I were Dan Sullivan, I'd be really upset that people now know that my email handle is "sullyboy".

[Brick]

Much like the LIPS TOGETHER mess, there seems to be part of the story missing here. (In that case, we later learned the personal strain Mullally was under with her mother sick, which at least colored her decision to leave the project.) Simply, if it were truly Sullivan doubting his "choices" and the producers pushing to fire him, like the NYTimes article suggests, then why would Sullivan be referring to a "disagreeable" situation and acknowledge he and Alec are "incompatible"?

I don't think it's fair to jump to conclusions that it's either of the actor's faults at this point, especially when they both seem to not have ill-will to one another. I will say, though, it certainly seems like there was at least one altercation between the two in rehearsals. But that happens all the time in rehearsal, even when the two actors aren't as famously feisty as these two.

I do wonder if they'll be able to bring in an actor with anywhere near the same level of recognition given this very public split.

[thebeautyis3]

All accounts I've heard about Shia are that he's difficult to work with. I know he's said some pretty nasty things in public about costars (Megan Fox comes to mind). He apparently filmed almost the entirety of Lawless drunk or hungover. On that set, he allegedly knocked out Tom Hardy and was so terrible to Mia Wasikowska that she very nearly quit and had to be begged to stay. He also got pretty upset with Jessica Chastain during an interview because of her friendship with Tom Hardy. It wouldn't surprise me if he and Baldwin did not get along, but I honestly doubt that Baldwin is purely the one to blame. Which I think is why almost everyone is focusing on the LaBeouf angle.

[tazber]

I can't imagine someone like that deserving the awful things that are being said about him in this thread.

Then bless your lucky stars that you've never had to find out firsthand what a total asshat he is.

[PRFRMR20]

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/21/ben-foster-will-replace-shia-labeouf-in-orphans/

[givesmevoice]

Mr. Foster, who had previously auditioned for the role – the malevolent and emotionally unstable Treat – has never been in a play as a professional actor before, nor has he worked with Mr. Baldwin. Mr. Foster will start rehearsals on Friday.

Am I the only one struck by this paragraph?

[thirtythirtyninety]

UPGRADE!

[latitudex1]

That was quick and unceremonious, and I'm sure the producers love it that way. And New York audiences get to discover a talented newcomer. It should be fun.

[Sauja]

Concerning that he has no stage experience, but I'm a huge fan of Foster's film work, particularly The Messenger. Hope he's wonderful in this!

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Shia LaBeouf’s Apology Email to Alec Baldwin Was Plagiarized From Esquire

[sabrelady]

Gie fools their silks, and knaves their wine,
A man's a man for a' that.

[jansalrose2]

I'm sorry, I find it difficult to defend someone who is acting like a 2 year old on TWITTER of all things...pick whatever cliche metaphor you want, he's pouring gasoline on a fire. It is SO inappropriate, unprofessional, and immature to post private emails like that. He's making it worse for himself. I don't doubt he's capable of doing the role, but this is just about...I don't know, basic human decency? I'm betting this isn't making things very cozy for the people involved in those email exchanges, either.

[newintown]

It can be awfully difficult to come out of a childhood performing career with your sanity intact.

[AC126748]

Looks like Shia's email to Baldwin was almost 100% plagiarized from an Esquire article.
Link

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

A real man reads at least four posts above his!

Just kidding, baby. :)

[AC126748]

A real man is too impatient to see what's directly in front of him!

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

And you're all man!