So, after weeks of speculation, during which the man himself kept a straight bat with journalists saying it was merely a ‘rumour’, it’s finally been confirmed that Shia LaBeouf has signed on for a part in Indiana Jones IV.
"Up until about two weeks ago, it was little more than a rumor," the 20 year-old actor, who also stars in this summer’s Transformers, told USA Today. "Literally, when I was saying, 'I don't know anything,' I didn't know anything. It was an act of faith. I have not read a script. I don't think anybody has."
Well, we’re pretty sure George Lucas, Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford have, Shia, but don’t be too hard on yourself, sunshine. You’ve just landed the role of a lifetime and confirmed your burgeoning rep as one of the finest young actors in the business.
Of course, since LaBeouf’s name has been linked with Indy IV, the ‘net has been awash with rumours that he would be playing Indy’s son – Henry Jones III??? - which, if rumours that Sean Connery is still mulling over the script, would have turned the film into a weird remake of Family Business. But LeBeouf insists that he’s not sure what role he’s playing.
"I can tell you I'm sort of the sidekick character, obviously," he says. "I'm sure there are a lot of laughs at my expense, and some kind of creature crawling on me. But it’s not going to be Short Round, all grown up!” Well, of course not – LaBeouf is a talented actor, but playing a Chinese character is probably beyond him.
But when he says he doesn’t know what role he’s playing, we’re inclined to believe him. A recent visit to Spielberg’s offices on the Universal lot, including sitdown time with Lucas, elicited nothing. Nada. Zip. Zilch.
"Lucas looks at you and says simply, 'I can't tell you that,' " laughs LaBeouf in a quote we didn't just simply lift from the USA Today story, honest. "Then when he thinks he is supposed to tell you something but isn't sure, he gets up and leaves the room, goes in to talk with Spielberg and comes back and says, 'Nope. Sorry.' "
Spielberg, though, has been forthcoming on LaBeouf’s casting, telling USA Today in an emailed statement, "Shia has extraordinary range. I think of him as 'the young man for all seasons." So there you go. It’s just another indication that Indy IV is a reality – excitement levels building!