Who'da thought Robert Redford was a "Transformers" fan?
The legendary actor/director has officially cast Shia LaBeouf in his next directorial effort, a political thriller called "Company You Keep." According to a press release, Redford will play a "former Weather Underground militant wanted by the FBI for 30 years, who must go on the run when his true identity is exposed by," Labeouf, who plays "a young, ambitious reporter hell-bent on making a name for himself."
So, Glenn Beck will probably just love it.
The film is based on a novel by Neil Gordon, and will be Redford's first directorial effort since "The Conspirator."
Redford will also star as legendary Dodgers General Manager Branch Rickey in a film about Jackie Robinson, while LaBeouf, whose "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" is just printing money at the box office, will feature in the upcoming indie drama, "The Wettest County In The World."
The full release follows (via Deadline):
Los Angeles, CA. (July 19, 2011) - Voltage Pictures and Wildwood Enterprises have cast Shia LaBeouf and Robert Redford in the political action thriller, "The Company You Keep." The announcement was made today by Voltage Pictures and Wildwood Enterprises.
Redford will direct from a script by Lem Dobbs ("Haywire," "The Limey," "Dark City"), based on the novel by Neil Gordon. "The Company You Keep" chronicles the story of a former Weather Underground militant wanted by the FBI for 30 years, who must go on the run when his true identity is exposed by a young, ambitious reporter hell-bent on making a name for himself. Redford plays the former radical at the center of this nationwide manhunt and LaBeouf, the determined journalist doggedly chasing him and his story. Producers are Robert Redford, Bill Holderman and Nicolas Chartier. Craig J. Flores is the Executive Producer.
"This is an edge-of-your-seat thriller about real Americans who stood for their beliefs, thinking they were patriots and defending their country's ideals against their government." said Voltage producer Nicolas Chartier. "It is absolutely amazing to have Shia LaBeouf, arguably the brightest young star in Hollywood today paired with the global icon Robert Redford."
Redford's Wildwood Enterprises originally acquired the novel and developed the screenplay with Voltage Pictures, who is actively selling the picture internationally. The picture is currently in pre-production and is set to film in Vancouver in September.
LaBeouf recently starred in the box office sensation Transformers: Dark of the Moon, reprising his role in the Michael Bay series of action films based on the popular Hasbro brand. He recently starred in Oliver Stone's Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps and can be seen in the upcoming drama The Wettest County in the World, directed by John Hillcoat and written by Nick Cave.
Redford and LaBeouf are both represented by CAA.