In a new video interview with Esquire, Frankie Muniz tells Malcolm in the Middle’s father Bryan Cranston that he often wonders how his career would have been different if he hadn’t dropped out of Holes. Muniz was cast in the lead role of Stanley Yelnatz in the 2003 Disney film before being offered the headlining role in Agent Cody Banks.
“I signed on to be in the movie ‘Hole’ and it was about to start 100 percent filming, and then ‘Cody Banks’ got the green light, and they were like, ‘Which one do you want to do?'” Muniz recalled. “I immediately went with ‘Agent Cody Banks,’ but I remember everyone pushing me to do ‘Hole’ because of the story. It’s a little more dramatic. Shia LaBeouf ended up doing it, and it really skyrocketed his movie career.”
“I wonder what my career and life would have been like if I had done Holes instead,” Muniz added. “So what would have happened? Would I have been taken more seriously as an actor?”
“Shia LaBeouf could have died,” Cranston sarcastically quipped, whistling in agreement. “Please leave that in. Shia, please help me!”
LaBeouf has a history of erratic behavior, sexual assault, assault and emotional distress, including a lawsuit filed against him by FKA Twigs. The lawsuit was settled in July of last year. Prior to that, LaBeouf was ordered by a court to attend a rehabilitation facility after being arrested in Georgia in 2017 for public intoxication and disorderly conduct. Just last month, LaBeouf was arrested in New Orleans after getting into an altercation at Mardi Gras.
“My actions… I have to deal with it. Does that mean I have to go to rehab again? I’m not into that, brother,” LaBeouf said in an interview with Andrew Callahan’s Channel 5 after his arrest in New Orleans. “I don’t think the answer is there for me. I don’t. I really, truly don’t. If I really did, I’d go. I don’t think I have a drinking problem… I think I have another problem, and I’m going to deal with it. I think I have a little male complex. I think it has more to do with anger and ego than my drinking. But that’s where I am in my journey right now and where I’m trying to navigate.” That’s what I understand. ”
LaBeouf’s Hollywood career has largely stalled due to his troubles. You can watch the full Esquire interview with Muniz and Cranston in the video below.
