Shia LaBeouf plays a cold-blooded crime associate in director David Ayer’s The Tax Collector


Shia LaBeouf plays a cold-blooded crime associate in director David Ayer’s The Tax Collector

Shia LaBeouf is ready to make people pay in director David Ayer’s new film The Tax Collector.

The actor/writer embraces his sinister side in the movie, which released its first trailer on Wednesday.

In the film the former Disney Channel star, 34, plays a cold-blooded crime associate who collects ‘taxes’ from gangs throughout Los Angeles.

At all costs: Shia LaBeouf plays a sinister collector for a crime syndicate in the new David Ayer film The Tax Collector

‘I heard you’re the devil,’ one unlucky debtor tells Shia.

‘I might be,’ he replies with a devious smile.

LaBeouf’s character – called Creeper – isn’t afraid to spill blood as he cruises around Southern California to take his boss Wizard’s cut of shady money.

But he’s paired with family man David (played by Bobby Soto), who has much more to lose.

Devilish: 'I heard you're the devil,' one debtor tells Shia as he stops by to collect

Devilish: ‘I heard you’re the devil,’ one debtor tells Shia as he stops by to collect

Pay up: His cold character collects 'taxes' from gangs throughout Los Angeles

Pay up: His cold character collects ‘taxes’ from gangs throughout Los Angeles

Creep: LaBeouf's character - called Creeper - isn't afraid to spill blood as he cruises around Southern California to take his boss Wizard's cut of the money

Creep: LaBeouf’s character – called Creeper – isn’t afraid to spill blood as he cruises around Southern California to take his boss Wizard’s cut of the money

Precious: He's paired with family man David (played by Bobby Soto), who has much more to lose

Precious: He’s paired with family man David (played by Bobby Soto), who has much more to lose

When their boss Wizard’s rival returns from Mexico a power struggle ensures, leaving David to fight for his family’s safety.

And after his kids get kidnapped, he’ll stop at nothing to get them home.

Bullets fly, explosives boom and as the violence ramps up, the tagline reminds viewers: ‘Payback comes with interest.’

Family man: When Wizard's rival returns from Mexico a power struggle ensures, leaving David to fight for his family's safety

Family man: When Wizard’s rival returns from Mexico a power struggle ensures, leaving David to fight for his family’s safety

All or nothing: After David's kids get kidnapped, he'll stop at nothing to get them home

All or nothing: After David’s kids get kidnapped, he’ll stop at nothing to get them home

Payback: Bullets fly, explosives boom and as the violence ramps up, the tagline reminds viewers: 'Payback comes with interest'

Payback: Bullets fly, explosives boom and as the violence ramps up, the tagline reminds viewers: ‘Payback comes with interest’ 

The Tax Collector is Shia’s second project with Ayer. The pair previously worked on the writer/director’s 2014 war drama Fury together.

Along with LaBeouf and Soto, the film features Cinthya Carmona and George Lopez. 

The Tax Collector comes out August 7 2020. 

Summer thriller: The Tax Collector comes out August 7 2020

Summer thriller: The Tax Collector comes out August 7 2020