A Deep Dive into Mental Health: Shia LaBeouf in "The Rooster Prince"

In November 2025, Josh Penn Soskin embarked on the creation of his first feature film, "The Rooster Prince," featuring Shia LaBeouf portraying Eli, a character based on the director's late brother, David. David, a renowned psychiatrist, had a battle with bipolar disorder, a fact which had a tremendous influence on the film's production.

Soskin recalls witnessing LaBeouf's intense portrayal on set, which reflected a deep-rooted pain mirroring the agony that his brother David lived through. This emotional turmoil was so poignant that it ended up terminating the shooting day only three takes in, leaving everyone, including the producers and Soskin himself, in a state of anxiety.

David, who had been exceptionally close to Soskin, transformed from a withdrawn scholar to an enthusiastic life explorer, influenced by his bipolar disorder. The highs and lows of his disease were intense, culminating in his tragic suicide.

Soskin attempted to deal with his grief by turning it into cinematic art through "The Rooster Prince," using love, literature, and cinema, the shared passions between him and David as a guiding compass. In creating the screenplay, Soskin felt as if his late brother was contributing to the film's creation from beyond.

LaBeouf, ahead of starting the film, had been open about his personal battles with addiction and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and his commitment to the film mirrored that of a spiritual journey. He delved deep into studying David's written works and even confessed to Soskin that he at times felt as if David was communicating with him.

The goal for both Soskin and LaBeouf was to provide the audience with a brutally authentic experience of a bipolar episode. The film followed an unconventional direction that manifested in the work, mirroring the ecstatic and painful nature of bipolar disorder.

The turmoil on set not only impacted the production but also the cast and crew. In an attempt to keep the movie from falling apart, Soskin-inspired by one of LaBeouf's improvised lines-urged everyone to display "maximum empathy," aiming for a realistic portrayal of the effects of mental disorders like bipolar and schizophrenia.

Despite the challenges, Soskin held firm in his belief that his film could forge a dialogue about the need to empathize with individuals suffering from mental illnesses, sparking a conversation about the much-needed taboo surrounding mental health.

LaBeouf's personal struggle continued after the film shooting, leading to a physical altercation at Mardi Gras in New Orleans in February 2026. He was later sentenced to a six-month suspended sentence along with two years of probation and mandated alcohol treatment. As for Soskin, he keeps his brother's memory alive through his work, seeking to bring people closer through shared human experiences.