Shia LaBeouf looks unrecognisable playing his own father for new role

The actor stars as his own father in Honey Boy

(Getty Images)

Earlier this year, Shia LaBeouf announced that work would soon begin on Honey Boy, a movie which draws inspiration from the actor’s own life.

Perhaps even more surprising was that LaBeouf would not be playing himself — that honour goes to Manchester by the Sea's Lucas Hedges — but his own father.

Describe as a 'law-breaking, alcohol-abusing father’, the first image of LaBeouf playing the character has emerged online. Wearing denim attire, smoking a cigarette, and with a receding hairline, the actor looks almost unrecognisable lying on some sand. See below.

Honey Boy — which also happens to be LaBeouf’s childhood nickname — will be directed by Alma Har’el, best known for her Tribeca Film Festival-winning documentary Bombay Beach.

The script was written by LaBeouf and landed on the Black List. According to reports, the movie will see the child star bounce between the Evan Stevens set and helping his father complete a 12-step programme for heroin addiction.

Meanwhile, LaBeouf will next appear in The Peanut Butter Falcon, an adventure film about a young boy with Down syndrome who runs away to fulfil his dream of becoming a professional wrestler.