Shia LaBeouf is back. For real this time.
After years of being the poster child for "difficult" actors and a long list of legal headaches, he's basically carved out a new lane in the indie world. No more giant robots. No more $100 million franchises. Just raw, uncomfortable performances that remind you why he was a superstar in the first place. His newest project, Salvable, is exactly that—a punch to the gut that feels more like a therapy session than a popcorn flick.
Set to hit theaters and digital platforms on May 2nd, the movie isn't some shiny Hollywood production. It’s a boxing crime-drama set in Ireland, and honestly, it looks bleak. But in the best way possible.
What is Salvable actually about?
The story focuses on Sal, played by Toby Kebbell. He’s a battered boxer past his prime, just trying to hold onto his relationship with his teenage daughter. Typical sports drama territory, right? Wrong.
Enter Shia LaBeouf as Vince.
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Vince is the bad influence. A former convict fresh out of jail who pulls Sal back into a dangerous underworld of bare-knuckle boxing and heists. If you've seen the trailer, you know Shia is doing that thing where he disappears into a character. He’s got the accent, the intensity, and that jittery energy that makes you think he might actually snap at any second. It’s a supporting role, but it feels like the engine of the movie.
The film was written by Bjorn Franklin and co-directed by him alongside Johnny Marchetta. They aren't household names yet, but landing a talent like LaBeouf for a gritty thriller is a massive flex. It’s also one of the few movies Shia has actually finished and released since his role in Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis.
Is this the start of a real comeback?
People keep asking if Shia is "back." It’s complicated.
He’s still dealing with the fallout of a major lawsuit from his ex, FKA twigs, which has been hanging over his head for years. He’s been pretty vocal about his struggles with sobriety and his "shame" on podcasts like Jon Bernthal’s Real Ones. Because of that, he isn't exactly getting calls from Disney or Marvel.
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Instead, he’s leaning into the "outsider" status.
Look at his recent and upcoming slate. He did a movie about a saint (Padre Pio), a massive sci-fi experiment (Megalopolis), and now Salvable. He also just finished a project called Henry Johnson, a low-budget indie from David Mamet that was reportedly shot in just five days. That's insane. Most movies take months to shoot. To do a whole feature in less than a week requires a level of focus that most actors can't maintain.
There's also buzz about Angel of Death, a World War II drama that Shia actually wrote. Reports suggest he might star in it as well, directed by the 87-year-old Polish auteur Jerzy Skolimowski. It’s a heavy story about a Jewish pathologist in Auschwitz. Not exactly "light" viewing, but it's the kind of high-stakes drama that wins awards if the execution is right.
Why Salvable is the movie to watch in 2026
If you’re wondering why you should care about a small boxing movie, it’s because it feels like a return to form for Shia's "middle-period" vibes—think The Peanut Butter Falcon or Honey Boy.
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- The Chemistry: Toby Kebbell is an underrated powerhouse (Servant, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes). Seeing him go toe-to-toe with Shia is going to be acting-nerd heaven.
- The Stakes: It’s a story about reclaimation. It mirrors Shia’s own life in a way that feels a bit meta.
- The Style: It isn't trying to be Rocky. It’s a crime thriller first. Expect more dirt, more blood, and way less "inspirational" music.
A lot of fans are also tracking God of the Rodeo, another crime thriller he’s attached to, directed by Rosalind Ross. It’s based on a book about the world of prison rodeos. Again, he’s picking roles that are gritty, physical, and deeply flawed.
Navigating the Shia LaBeouf filmography in 2026
If you want to catch up before Salvable drops in May, here is where things stand:
- Megalopolis: You can find this on most streaming platforms now. He plays Clodio Pulcher, a chaotic, gender-bending political agitator. It’s easily his most "out there" performance.
- Henry Johnson: This one had a quiet release. It’s a masterclass in Mamet-style dialogue.
- The Documentary Factor: Keep an eye out for Slauson Rec. It’s a documentary about the theater company Shia started in LA. It premiered at Cannes and apparently doesn't hold back on showing his aggressive side during rehearsals.
So, is he still a "movie star"? Maybe not in the way he was during Transformers. But he’s becoming something else—a character actor who isn't afraid to look ugly or be the villain.
For many viewers, that’s way more interesting than a blockbuster hero anyway. Salvable is going to be the litmus test for whether he can still carry a movie to a mainstream audience, or if he’s destined to remain in the indie shadows.
What to do next:
If you want to see the film, mark May 2nd on your calendar. Lionsgate is handling the release, so it will likely be available on Apple TV and Amazon the same day it hits select theaters. If you're looking for his more experimental work, track down a copy of Henry Johnson—it's the best preview of the "new" Shia we've seen lately.