Nepo baby’s A-list dad gushes over son landing a role on his own TV show

Ryan Phillippe is over the moon about the latest casting decision on his upcoming TV series Motorheads on Amazon Prime.

Ryan plays a former NASCAR mechanic named Logan, whose brother Christian disappeared 17 years ago. 

Deacon, 21, plays Ryan’s brother Christian in flashbacks and Ryan is thrilled to be working with his son, whom he shares with his ex-wife Reese Witherspoon, 49.

‘It was the showrunner’s idea. He came up to me and said, “We’re thinking about offering the role of Christian in flashbacks to your son.” I was like, “wow,”‘ he told the New York Post.

And internally I’m like, “please!” I wanted it, but I wanted to play it very cool and let them work it out, separate of me.

‘I said, “Well, then offer it to him, and see what he thinks.” And then Deacon said he wanted to – what a joy,’ the Cruel Intentions star said. 

Ryan Phillippe is over the moon about the latest casting decision on his upcoming TV series Motorheads on Amazon Prime. Deacon Phillippe seen here on October 29, 2024

Ryan plays a former NASCAR mechanic named Logan, whose brother Christian disappeared 17 years go. Seen herein February 2022

Motorheads is Deacon’s second role. His first was in Netflix’s Never Have I Ever. 

Motorheads follows high schoolers Zac (Michael Cimino) and Caitlyn (Melissa Collazo), who move with their mom (Nathalie Kelley) back to her Rust Belt hometown, where there’s a thriving street race scene. 

They’re close with their uncle, Logan (Phillippe), a former NASCAR mechanic who now struggles to keep an auto body shop afloat.

Logan’s younger brother is Zac and Caitlyn’s father and was a legend in the street racing scene until he vanished under mysterious circumstances 17 years ago. 

‘We didn’t have scenes together, but he was playing my brother. And so, we sat in a room with John the showrunner … and talked about what our childhood would have been like growing up – which is such a unique thing to have with your son,’ Ryan told The Post.

Ryan was on set when Deacon was filming just in case he needed him ‘just to kind of show him the ropes, and let him know how things typically go, or if he had any questions.’

‘I was there for his first night shoot, watching him be bleary-eyed at three in the morning,’ he recalled. 

‘So, it did feel like a shared experience, even though we weren’t on-screen together.’

Deacon, 21, plays Ryan’s brother Christian in flashbacks and Ryan is thrilled to be working with his son, whom he shares with his ex-wife Reese Witherspoon, 49. Seen here in February 2022

‘It was the showrunner’s idea. He came up to me and said, “We’re thinking about offering the role of Christian in flashbacks to your son.” I was like, “wow,”‘ he said. Seen here with mom Reese in 2024

‘And internally I’m like, “please!” I wanted it, but I wanted to play it very cool and let them work it out, separate of me. ‘I said, “Well, then offer it to him, and see what he thinks.”  Reese seen here May 1, 2025

Reese Witherspoon’s daughter Ava Phillippe, 25, has ‘no contact’ with dad Ryan Phillippe, an insider exclusively tells the Daily Mail

Meanwhile, Ryan’s other kid with Reese, Ava Phillippe, 24, is embroiled in a major feud with her dad. 

The Daily Mail can reveal that Ava is ‘estranged from her dad out of choice’ and has not seen the 50-year-old in two years.

‘She has no contact with him and rarely mentions him,’ a source says. ‘Ryan hasn’t been a present father figure in her life for years.’

But the pair’s relationship hasn’t always been so strained – with past interviews and social media posts speaking of their ‘inspiring’ bond.

In 2018, Ryan’s ex-girlfriend, Elsie Hewitt accused him of assault in a $1 million lawsuit.

Elsie claimed that Ryan came to her house in Los Angeles and threw her down the stairs before ‘kicking and striking’ her.

She also claimed in the legal filing that he used drugs, alcohol and steroids, which caused mood swings and extreme anger.

Ryan denied the allegations and emphasized his support for ‘women’s rights, feminism and advocacy.’ The lawsuit was settled out of court in 2019, just days before they were set to go to trial for an undisclosed amount. 

The source says the Cruel Intentions actor, 50, ‘hasn’t been a present father figure in [Ava’s] life for years’

Ryan was on set when Deacon was filming just in case he needed him ‘ just to kind of show him the ropes, and let him know how things typically go, or if he had any questions.’ Seen here in 2024

Although the actor has continued to deny the allegations, our source says they had an impact on Ava – who has been an outspoken advocate on issues like body positivity, mental health awareness, and LGBTQ+ rights.

‘Things really soured in 2018 around the time he was accused of abuse by his ex,’ the insider adds. ‘Her issue with Ryan is his treatment of women which she finds appalling.’

While Ryan remains close with Deacon, our source says: ‘Ava doesn’t follow Ryan on social media any more, and she has no interest in the relationship he shares with her brother.’

Indeed, the pair reportedly haven’t seen each other since April 2023 when they attended the release party for Deacon’s debut album. 

While they were both pictured at the event in West Hollywood, there were no photos of father and daughter together.