Shia LaBeouf Recalls Nearly Joining the Peace Corps on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’

If you enjoy art that’s indeed very good and wholly cathartic, then you’re well aware that Shia LaBeouf and Alma Har’el’s Honey Boy is out this Friday. Ahead of the release, which notably comes on a wave of virtually unanimous critical acclaim, LaBeouf continued a recent string of must-watch interviews with an appearance on Wednesday night’s Jimmy Kimmel Live.

At the top of the discussion, Kimmel asked the Honey Boy writer and star about still being in touch with the police officer who arrested him in Georgia back in 2017.

“Officer Bryant, that’s my guy,” he said. “He invited me to go fishing yesterday.” Asked if he ever thought he would be doing such a thing as fishing, LaBeouf expressed welcomed shock.

“Ah, no, I fucking hated it but, you know, life,” he said. “It takes interesting turns . . . We were crabbin’ down there so he’ll probably be taking me crabbing, I think.”

LaBeouf also recalled his brief consideration of joining the Peace Corps, a consideration that was sidelined once a rehab stint inspired him to begin what would become the Honey Boy script.

“I thought the acting thing was over and then I signed up to go to the Peace Corps and then went into this rehab facility, was there for two months, had written this thing, plans changed,” LaBeouf told Kimmel. “So when I got out, I wasn’t gonna do the Peace Corps no more. So we had a little conversation about it, they were very peaceful about it . . . It’s not like the Navy or something like that.”

As for LaBeouf’s father, a fictionalized version of whom he plays in the film, LaBeouf said he was initially “not enthused” about the idea but is now savoring the moment.

“I lied to him and told him that Mel Gibson would be playing him and my dad was like, ‘Alright, OK,’ and he signed the paperwork,” he said. “Then I got home and I broke it to him and I sent him pictures. I said, ‘Listen, man. It’s not like that.”

“I love my dad,” he added.

LaBeouf also discussed the Honey Boy writing process, his father’s chicken-related advice, his famous closet raid by way of Kanye West, and more. See the full moment up top.

Honey Boy hits a theater near you Friday and, yes, you should absolutely make plans to go see it.