“They made a very convincing hot couple.”
Turns out Armie Hammer almost lost out his role in Call Me by Your Name to Shia LaBeouf.
Sayombhu Mukdeeprom / Sony Pictures Classics / courtesy Everett Collection
The film’s screenwriter, James Ivory, just revealed that Shia’s audition took everyone by surprise — and he came pretty close to being cast alongside Timothée Chalamet.
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James recounted the audition process in his new memoir, Solid Ivory, where he explained that he was hesitant at first about Shia’s involvement with the film.
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“Shia LaBeouf…had been contacted for the part of Oliver. At this, I was doubtful. I didn’t know much about him, so I watched some of his films,” James wrote, according to GQ.
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He continuned, “He’s an extremely good actor. But as an academic writing about the Greek philosopher Heraclitus, he would be a stretch…I thought, he would be a sort of diamond-in-the-rough-scholar type.”
Sony Pictures / ©Sony Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection
But when Shia flew out to read with Timothée, everyone was incredibly impressed by the duo’s chemistry.
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“Shia came to read for us in New York with Timothée Chalamet, paying for his own plane ticket, and Luca [Guadagnino] and I had been blown away. The reading by the two young actors had been sensational; they made a very convincing hot couple,” James noted.
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But unfortunately for Shia, his personal life got in the way, and the negative attention surrounding the actor convinced the filmmakers to go with Armie.
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“Shia was dropped. He had had some bad publicity. He’d fought with his girlfriend; he’d fended off the police somewhere when they had tried to calm him down. And Luca would not call him, or his agent. I emailed Shia to offer reassurance, but then Luca cast Armie Hammer and never spoke to, or of, Shia again,” James explained.
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And while Shia’s actions, including accusations of abuse from his ex-girlfriend FKA Twigs, garnered plenty of negative press, Armie ended up having a multitude of accusations against him as well.
Todd Williamson / NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images Stefanie Keenan / Getty Images for GO Campaign
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE, which routes the caller to their nearest sexual assault service provider. You can also search your local center here.
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