Ben Foster to Replace Shia LaBeouf in Broadway's Orphans

Well that was quick. Less than 24 hours after Shia LaBeouf exited the upcoming Broadway mounting of Orphans, actor Ben Foster has stepped in to take over the role of Treat.

Orphans will mark the Broadway debut for Foster, whose many film credits include The Punisher, The Messenger, X-Men: The Last Stand, Alpha Dog, 3:10 to Yuma, Rampart and Contraband. He can also be seen in the upcoming Kill Your Darlings opposite Daniel Radcliffe. 

LaBeouf, who exited the show due to "creative differences," has been making headlines since his departure by tweeting personal e-mails from director Daniel Sullivan and the play's other stars Alec Baldwin and Tom Sturridge. The actor seems to have made some peace with the recent events though as he took to Twitter to give Foster's casting his approval. "Ben Foster is a beast. He will kill it," he wrote.  

The Orphans cast is set to begin rehearsals on February 22 as planned. Previews remain scheduled to start on March 19 at the Schoenfeld Theatre, with opening night still planned for April 7.

Written by Lyle Kessler, Orphans is the story of two orphaned brothers living in a decrepit North Philadelphia row house. Treat (Foster), the eldest, supports his damaged younger sibling by petty thievery, and makes the house a virtual prison for the seemingly simple-minded Phillip (Sturridge). One night Treat kidnaps a rich older man, Harold (Baldwin), who turns out to have his own motives and becomes the father figure the boys have always yearned for.