In an extensive interview with The Hollywood Reporter, conducted to promote his latest film, Henry Johnson, LaBeouf candidly discussed the intense pressures he faced on set with Baldwin during their planned collaboration in the 2013 Broadway production of Orphans. The interview revealed deeper layers of their interactions and the challenges that influenced their professional relationship.

LaBeouf explained that he had dedicated years of preparation for his role, initially alongside Al Pacino, only for Pacino to withdraw unexpectedly, leading to Baldwin stepping into the role. According to LaBeouf, Baldwin’s last-minute involvement created tension between them, with the Even Stevens star acknowledging that he bore significant responsibility for the discord that arose.

“By the time Baldwin arrived, it felt almost unjust. He had to navigate my fragile ego,” LaBeouf shared with THR. “After two years of intensive preparation, I was desperate to demonstrate my commitment and skills to him, hoping he would recognize my efforts. My insecurities escalated the situation, making the environment tense. Ultimately, Baldwin became more assertive, which altered the nature of our relationship.”

“I would be off book, while he remained on book, which created discomfort for both of us. He preferred that I not see him unprepared, making it challenging to perform and rehearse effectively. To his credit, Baldwin had just two weeks to step in after Pacino’s departure,” LaBeouf elaborated. “I had constructed my entire performance around my chemistry with Pacino, and losing that connection left me heartbroken.”

The Honey Boy star disclosed that he was in a particularly dark phase of his life when Baldwin joined the production. LaBeouf revealed that he was effectively “living” and “sleeping” in Central Park, battling personal demons and was “on steroids” during much of the preparation process.

LaBeouf expressed that he participated in Baldwin’s acting class at New York University while rehearsing for Orphans.

“Alec started teaching an acting class at NYU while I was rehearsing. I found it perplexing that he hadn’t memorized his lines yet!” LaBeouf recalled. “This led me to enroll in his class, which turned into an intense experience for me.”

Ultimately, LaBeouf withdrew from the production of Orphans, but he noted that he and Baldwin managed to reconcile their differences.

“Alec and I are in a good place now because we have both endured significant challenges. We’ve been able to express compassion towards one another and mend our relationship before the chaos unfolded on both sides. We reached an understanding. He’s a remarkable person, much like myself. Fear influences how we behave. I came to realize that it stemmed from my lack of spiritual grounding,” LaBeouf reflected.

“That’s the truth,” stated LaBeouf’s Henry Johnson director, David Mamet, who also penned the play on which the film is based. LaBeouf candidly admitted, “It turned me into a problematic individual. I wasn’t kind.”

Baldwin, for his part, mentioned in a 2014 interview with Vulture that there was “friction” between him and LaBeouf “from the outset,” describing his co-star as having a “jailhouse mentality.”

In another segment of LaBeouf’s conversation with THR, the 38-year-old actor, who has been candid about his past battles with alcohol and drug addiction, acknowledged how his close friends, including Mel Gibson, along with actors Sean Penn and James Brolin, have significantly supported him in his journey towards sobriety.

When asked whether he maintains a relationship with Gibson, LaBeouf affirmed, “Yes, very much so. I have immense respect and love for him. He has always treated me kindly, especially during my darkest moments. He really stepped up for me in significant ways.”

“Mel, Sean Penn, James Brolin—these individuals played crucial roles in my recovery. They surrounded me and kept me alive,” he elaborated. “Sean also encouraged me to pursue [Henry Johnson] as a play. I was terrified when this project started. He was there from the very beginning. Sam Rockwell also showed up. A number of actors I deeply admired began to appear, and I had never experienced such profound affection before.”

LaBeouf—who previously shared that he discovered Catholicism after portraying the 20th-century Italian priest Francesco Forgione in the 2022 film Padre Pio—was asked if he viewed his role in Henry Johnson as a potential pathway to rehabilitation.

“I certainly hope so. I aspire for my life to embody that theme. I want to spend my life reconciling and rectifying past mistakes,” he expressed. “That is my goal moving forward. I am grateful that I still have the opportunity to engage in this craft and perform at a high level alongside great talent. It feels like an incredible blessing.”

“It’s all interconnected—either God is everything or nothing. I genuinely believe that. Dave and I engage in deep conversations about spirituality,” he added. “I have accompanied him to temple, and he has attended church with me. We have explored profound spiritual depths together.”

LaBeouf has previously compared his journey towards redemption with that of Gibson, who has faced scrutiny for a range of controversial actions related to racism, homophobia, antisemitism, and domestic violence, as well as Brolin, who was charged with domestic battery back in 2004. Both Gibson and Brolin have also battled issues related to alcohol and drug addiction.

LaBeouf’s latest film release coincides with his upcoming court appearance later this year, nearly five years after his ex-girlfriend, FKA Twigs, made serious allegations against him involving multiple instances of abuse in 2020.

She accused him of “relentless abuse,” which included sexual battery, assault, and infliction of emotional distress. FKA Twigs, who was in a relationship with LaBeouf for less than a year after they met on the set of Honey Boy in 2018, also alleged that LaBeouf knowingly transmitted a sexually transmitted infection to her and claimed he had harmed stray dogs.

While LaBeouf has denied the allegations made by FKA Twigs, he acknowledged to The New York Times at the time, “Although many of these claims are not true, I am not in a position to defend my actions. I owe these women the chance to voice their experiences publicly and I must accept accountability for the things I have done. As someone in recovery, I face daily reminders of my past behavior when I was drinking.”