Shia LaBeouf is in for more action on the big screen after movie bosses tapped him to star in an upcoming legal thriller.

The Indiana Jones actor has landed the title role in the movie version of John Grisham's new book The Associate, scheduled to hit shelves in January.

LaBeouf will play a student graduating from Yale Law School who is given confidential information about a multi-billion dollar lawsuit.

The 22-year-old joins a list of Hollywood actors who've led Grisham adaptations, including Tom Cruise, Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman.