Director Defends Shia LaBeouf’s Performance in The Rooster Prince

The director of The Rooster Prince, Max Soskin, has defended Shia LaBeouf’s performance after reports about the actor’s behavior on set and his recent legal troubles.

In an open letter published by Variety on July 16, Soskin described LaBeouf’s portrayal of a man struggling with mental illness as the most authentic he has ever seen. The film is based on Soskin’s real-life relationship with his late brother, David, a Harvard psychiatrist who experienced a manic episode before dying by suicide in 2017.

Soskin said LaBeouf became deeply committed to the role and appeared to be dealing with his own emotional pain during filming. He acknowledged that the actor could be difficult to work with, but said he also saw someone who was suffering.

The director recalled that LaBeouf added the line, “All I ask from you is that you treat me with maximum empathy,” during a rehearsal. Soskin said the message reflected both his brother’s experience and LaBeouf’s own struggles, calling for compassion toward both those who have been hurt and those who have caused harm.

The letter comes months after Rolling Stone reported that crew members described LaBeouf as unpredictable and confrontational during production. The film, however, finished shooting in December 2025, before LaBeouf’s February 2026 arrest in New Orleans.

In June, LaBeouf pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery charges and was sentenced to two years of probation, alcohol rehabilitation, sensitivity training, and anger management classes. He has also faced legal and personal challenges in recent years, including past abuse allegations from former partner FKA twigs, whose lawsuit was dropped in 2025.

The Rooster Prince also stars Jackson White. The film does not yet have a release date.