Leonardo DiCaprio’s appearance in James Cameron’s Titanic catapulted him to stardom and kick-stared his stellar Hollywood career, but little did fans know that he almost starred in another cult-classic movie that would have changed his entire life: Paul Thomas Anderson’s Boogie Nights.
Mark Wahlberg snagged the lead role, and it propelled his career to become a full-fledged actor, but the director initially wanted DiCaprio for the part. Not to say that the latter should have chosen otherwise given how successful he has become because of Titanic, but it would have been interesting to see what would have happened if he had taken the other way.
Leonardo DiCaprio Talks About Finally Working With Paul Thomas Anderson
During an interview via Deadline, actor Leonardo DiCaprio talked about almost working with Paul Thomas Anderson in Boogie Nights, and how, after many years, they will finally reunite for a new project.
“I’m really excited. I haven’t worked with him yet, we’ve only had discussions, but I’ve known him throughout the years, and he is so committed to his ideas and his own vision. And when you work with somebody that is so diligent about what they want to do and how they see things, it takes away half the battle for you.”
DiCaprio has nothing but positive words for the director, and he expressed thrill and excitement to finally get to collaborate with him. The unnamed big-budget project for Warner Bros will also star Sean Penn and Regina Hall.
“He’s a writer director, an incredible storyteller, and not for one moment has he sacrificed what he’s wanted to do as a filmmaker on screen for anyone. And isn’t that a rarity?”
Looking back on his journey, DiCaprio could not help but regret not choosing to do Boogie Nights. He told GQ that it would be intriguing to know where it would have led him today had he followed that journey.
“Boogie Nights is a movie I loved, and I wish I would’ve done. I’m not saying I would have. But it would have been a different direction, career-wise. I think they’re both great, and wish I could have done them both. The truth is, if I’d not done Titanic, I wouldn’t be able to do the types of movies or have the career I have now, for sure. But it would have been interesting to see if I had gone the other way.”
With all the projects he declined throughout his Hollywood career, Boogie Nights is definitely at the top of his list, though no one can deny that it was too far behind the success of Titanic.
Why Leonardo DiCaprio Rejected Boogie Nights
In an interview via The Bill Simmons Podcast, director Paul Thomas Anderson addressed the rumor circling on why DiCaprio never got the lead role in his movie. He simply stated, “There was no Leo vs. Mark because Leo decided not to do the film.”
DiCaprio admitted that he rejected the role because he was unfamiliar with Anderson’s body of works. Boogie Nights would have been their first project together.
Still, the movie was a hit among fans and critics, even earning three Academy Award nominations, including Best Original Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Supporting Actor.
