Abel Ferrara says casting Shia Labeouf as Padre Pio, the Italian monk who gained rock-star status among the Catholic faithful, coincided with a point in the actor’s life “where he connected very deeply with Pio’s journey in the film.”“Padre Pio,” which is among titles set to launch next week from the Venice Film Festival’s independently run Giornate Degli Autori, will see Labeouf back on the big screen after the actor — best known for his roles in the Transformers and Indiana Jones franchises — took a break from acting in 2020 following allegations made by his ex-girlfriend Tahliah Debrett Barnett.
The singer, known as FKA twigs, sued Labeouf for sexual battery and emotional distress.Labeouf subsequently took a break from acting so that he could solely focus on his recovery.Padre Pio, who was born Francesco Forgione in southern Italy in the late 19th century, elicited both devotion and controversy throughout his life.
Read full article