Scott Eastwood is opening up about the explosive behind-the-scenes drama that nearly turned the set of Fury into a real-life battlefield.
The 40-year-old actor claimed he almost came to blows with Shia LaBeouf while filming the gritty 2014 World War II movie — forcing their co-star Brad Pitt to step in and defuse the situation.
Eastwood described making the movie as an “incredible experience,” but admitted it was also extremely difficult because of LaBeouf’s intense behavior.
“It was tough,” Eastwood said during the August 3 episode of Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast.
According to Eastwood, LaBeouf took method acting to disturbing extremes before filming had even begun.
“From what I recall, he pulled out one of his teeth,” Eastwood said. “He pulled out his tooth, but then he cut himself.”
Eastwood said the bizarre behavior immediately convinced him to keep his distance.
“I remember thinking, ‘Okay, this guy’s crazy. I’m just going to keep clear of him because I don’t play that game,’” he recalled.
Eastwood said actors should be able to deliver powerful performances without creating chaos for everyone around them.
“There are plenty of ways to do a performance in a movie and be professional also,” he said. “There are plenty of ways to deliver a great performance in a movie and still be professional.”
But keeping his distance apparently wasn’t enough.
Eastwood said the tension finally exploded during a scene in which his character was supposed to spit tobacco on a tank. Although the action was written into the script, LaBeouf allegedly took issue with it.
“One day he was having an episode and decided I shouldn’t be spitting tobacco on the tank, which was in the script,” Eastwood explained.
The son of Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood said he eventually lost his patience and confronted LaBeouf.
“Finally, I just said, ‘Enough’s enough,’” he recalled. “I said, ‘Hey, f— you. Stop pulling your s—. I’m going to whoop your a–.’”
LaBeouf allegedly responded to the challenge, and the confrontation appeared moments away from becoming physical.
“He got froggy, and then everyone broke it up,” Eastwood said.
Eastwood claimed Pitt helped calm the situation before fists started flying.
“Brad Pitt sort of broke up a little tense moment,” he revealed.
Eastwood also suggested the confrontation was not an isolated incident. He claimed several members of the cast experienced tense moments with LaBeouf during production.
“We all had moments with Shia where it felt like things were going to come to blows,” he said.
Shepard brought up Fury co-star Jon Bernthal, who had reportedly been frustrated by LaBeouf’s extreme method acting before eventually admitting that the troubled star delivered an impressive performance.
Eastwood acknowledged that LaBeouf appeared to be struggling with serious personal issues at the time.
“Look, Shia is clearly tormented and has maybe got, you know, some stuff going on,” he said.
Shepard interjected with a reference to addiction. LaBeouf has publicly discussed his struggles with alcohol and other personal problems over the years.
Despite the frightening experience, Eastwood appeared to recognize the complicated line between artistic intensity and unacceptable behavior.
“The film industry attracts psychopaths because it’s where art and business intersect,” he declared.
