Shia LaBeouf's comeback continues: Francis Ford Coppola launches him in "Megalopolis"

Shia LaBeouf is not worried about his return.

After parting ways with Olivia Wilde's 'Don't Worry Darling', revisit the autobiographical status of her father-son drama 'Honey Boy' and speak out on the abuse allegations and the lawsuit filed by ex-FKA partner Twigs, the 'Padre Pio' actor has joined the huge cast of Francis Ford Coppola's 'Megalopolis.

LaBeouf's casting announcement also included that director Coppola's sister, Talia Shire ("Rocky") would reunite with the author after starring in "The Godfather," alongside nephew Jason Schwartzman. Grace Vanderwaal, Kathryn Hunter and James Remar also join the cast.

Previously announced "Megalopolis" mega-stars include Adam Driver, Nathalie Emmanuel, Forest Whitaker, Laurence Fishburne, Jon Voight and Aubrey Plaza. The official synopsis for "Megalopolis" eerily reads: "The fate of Rome haunts a modern world unable to solve its own social problems in this epic tale of political ambition, genius, and conflicted love."

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Writer/director Coppola reportedly spent hundreds of millions of dollars funding this epic futuristic feature film, which spanned over 20 years. The film will be shot in Georgia starting in November 2022 and will continue until March 2023.

LaBeouf also directs Abel Ferrara's "Padre Pio" biopic about controversial priest Francesco Forgione. The "Holes" alum was cast in the feature film after Willem Dafoe suggested he was perfect to portray the Italian monk who rose to prominence in Catholicism during both World Wars. The film will premiere at the 2022 Venice Film Festival, which LaBeouf will attend. However, the actor will not do any press for the film.

"He's an iconic figure," director Ferrara previously told Variety of Padre Pio's legacy. “He's on the back of every truck. He's the saint of all drug dealers in Naples. Pio is like the Jesus alternative, in a way.”

After speaking with LaBeouf about the role, Ferrara said the "Transformers" alum "went to a monastery in California" soon after to fully immerse himself in the experience. LaBeouf donned monk robes and slept in Padre Pio's former bed at a southern Italian monastery during production. Ferrara noted that the film is backed by the Padre Pio brotherhood, with LaBeouf acting opposite real monks.

"He brings his own life to it," Ferrara said of LaBeouf's performance. "You see a person going through a very similar experience. It's not just about wearing dresses and performing actions. He connected very deeply with Pio's journey in the film. When the actor lives parallel type travel, that's when you get such a powerful performance."

LaBeouf took a two-year hiatus after being assaulted by ex-girlfriend FKA Twigs. LaBeouf is also set to star in "After Exile," alongside Robert De Niro, about a former convict seeking redemption.

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