Shia Labeouf - Shia Labeouf's 'Physically Arduous' Lawless Role

Shia Labeouf's 'Physically Arduous' Lawless Role

Shia LaBeouf was in the gym ''all of the time'' to prepare for his role in 'Lawless'.

The 26-year-old actor worked out more than he's ever done in his ''entire life'' to get in shape to portray bootlegger Jack Bondurant alongside Tom Hardy, Dane DeHaan and Gary Oldman.

He said: ''There's physical preparation. We were all in the gym all of the time. I was in the gym more here than I had ever been in my entire life.

''I know that Jason was in the gym every day. Tom was in the gym every day. I know the walk that [Dane DeHaan] had to do was physically arduous and continues to be. You go as hard as you can. It's a very physical thing.''

Shia was convinced to take on the role after John Hillcoat pitched the movie to him over a meal of hamburgers by describing it as similar to 1990 drama film 'Goodfellas' - which starred Robert De Niro and Ray Liotta - but set in the woods.

He added to MTV News: ''You get The Call that he wants to meet, that there might be something that he's making. Of course, you try to get in there as quick as possible.

''I sat down and the first words he said to me were, ' 'Goodfellas' in the woods.' I was sold. That set me off running. We were just talking tone. I thought it was amazing. We had a couple of cast that came together and fell apart, and then we ended up with the ultimate.''