Shia to Spend Winter in Dark Fields

Shia LaBeouf ponders his career. Or something.

ComingSoon reports that the inexplicably busy Shia LaBeouf will film Dark Fields this winter for director Neil Burger. CS got the story while interviewing Burger about his soon-to-be-released film The Lucky Ones.

(btw, I say “inexplicably busy” because I just haven’t been able to buy in to the charms of Mr. LaBeouf. He’s a competent actor, but not a particularly interesting one; he doesn’t have a lot of presence, meanning he doesn’t pop off the screen like a real star; he’s okay looking but not so handsome that you sit up and notice. So why does he get cast in so many things? I can only guess that he’s a joy to work with and has a kick-ass agent-manager team. And Shia fans, don’t get all angry–I’m sure there’s actors I like who you think are a total waste of time. We all have freedom of like here.)

Burger will direct Leslie Dixon’s adaptation of Alan Glyn’s 2002 novel of apparently almost the same title (The Dark Fields–is “the” not movie friendly?). It’s about “a pill that makes you smarter.” (smart pill? Careful, Mr. Burger, take one and you may find yourself thinking, “Why did I cast Shia? And what made me drop that ‘the’?”)

Burger said that the story wasn’t really scifi. He explains his take:

“It’s more like if there’s viagra or steroids, why isn’t there something that increases your synaptic connections and makes you think smarter and faster, but it’s not without side effects and consequences.”

Undoubtedly. But are the consequences from a smart pill as scary sounding as that “seek medical help if you have an erection that lasts more than four hours” warning that comes with Viagra? I’m guessing not. The consequences are probably more like, “I can’t sleep because I’m so excited about my new differential calculus workbook.”

Word of additional casting is surely to come.