10 Iconic Movies Turned Down by Leonardo DiCaprio: “Spider-Man”, “Star Wars”, “The Matrix” and more
DiCaprio, a staple in Hollywood and one of the most versatile actors of his generation, rejected some of the biggest movies of all time.
Leonardo DiCaprio is one of the most talented actors in Hollywood, with an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance in “The Revenant.”
DiCaprio has been approached by many famous directors to star in their films, but he has turned down many roles that did not appeal to him. On March 20th, the website MovieWeb compiled a list of the top ten films that DiCaprio declined or missed out on.
Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man”
The first live-action “Spider-Man” movie had a tumultuous production process before the audience watched Sam Raimi’s final production. It also included a script written by James Cameron, who was eyeing DiCaprio. In the end, DiCaprio recommended the film to his “best friend” Tobey Maguire.
Lana Wachowski and Lilly Wachowski’s “The Matrix”
Before Keanu Reeves landed the role of Neo and made it his own, many famous actors were considered, including DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, and Will Smith. However, after his success in “Titanic”, DiCaprio wanted to distance himself from movies that relied on special effects and declined the role.
George Lucas’s Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones
In 2002, DiCaprio was wary of taking on a big franchise like Star Wars. He chose to star in Martin Scorsese’s “Gangs of New York” instead.
Quentin Tarantino’s “Inglourious Basterds”
DiCaprio was considered for the role of Hans Landa, which eventually went to Christoph Waltz, who delivered an unforgettable performance. However, DiCaprio went on to work with Tarantino on “Django Unchained” and “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.”
Mary Harron’s “American Psycho”
DiCaprio was initially cast in the lead role, but when the director changed, he was replaced by Christian Bale. Harron’s return to the project opened the door to one of the best movies of the 2000s.
Kenny Ortega’s “Hocus Pocus”
Although the movie has become a cult classic, DiCaprio declined the role to star in “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” with Johnny Depp.
Joel Schumacher’s “Batman Forever”
DiCaprio was considered for the role of Robin, but after meeting with the director, he decided not to take part in the movie. He later advised Timothée Chalamet to avoid superhero movies.
Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Boogie Nights”
DiCaprio was interested in the lead role, but he turned it down because of his work on “Titanic”.
Robert Rodriguez’s “Sin City”
DiCaprio was in talks to play Dwight McCarthy, but the role ultimately went to Clive Owen. 2005 was a year without DiCaprio on the screen.
Anthony Minghella’s “The Talented Mr. Ripley”
DiCaprio passed on the role of Tom Ripley, and it went to Matt Damon. The film received critical acclaim and five Academy Award nominations.
Despite missing out on these iconic roles, DiCaprio has had a successful career in the film industry, collaborating with Martin Scorsese in films such as “Gangs of New York,” “The Departed,” “Shutter Island,” and “The Wolf of Wall Street.” He is set to star in Scorsese’s upcoming film “Killers of the Flower Moon,” which has generated high expectations among movie fans.
Source: Naver.
