Shia LaBeouf has pulled out of his debut Broadway play, Orphans, due to "creative differences," the Associated Press reports.
The play, directed by Glengarry Glen Ross director Daniel Sullivan, also stars Alec Baldwin and Tom Sturridge. According to the show's official website, Orphans tell the story of two orphaned brothers who "live in their decrepit North Philadelphia row house. They survive by petty thievery and a steady diet of tuna fish and daytime television until the violent older brother decides to kidnap Harold (Baldwin), a notorious Chicago gangster."
On Wednesday, a press representative for the production announced that LaBeouf is leaving the play. In a statement quoted by the New York Times, the rep said, "Due to creative differences, the producers of Orphans and Shia LaBeouf will be parting ways and he will not be continuing with the production.
The representative added, "An announcement on the replacement for the role of 'Treat' will be made shortly." As of early Thursday afternoon, the play's official website still pictured LaBeouf as one of the play's three stars.
After the announcement, LaBeouf posted a series of tweets about the situation, waxing philosophical about the nature of theater and acting.
He also linked to screenshots of a few personal exchanges between him, Alec Baldwin, co-star Tom Sturridge, and the director.
One email addressed to LaBeouf was signed 'AB' and appears to be from Alec Baldwin, though this has not been independently confirmed.
The email reads in part, "SL: I've been through this before. It's been a while. And perhaps some of the particulars are different. But it comes down to the fact that what we all do now is critical...Perhaps especially for you...I don't have an unkind word to say about you. You have my word. -AB."
Here are a few of the emails posted on LaBeouf's Twitter page:
And this appears to be an encouraging email from playwright Lyle Kessler sent a few days before LaBeouf announced his departure from the play: