Academy Award-winning director James Cameron received’t let anybody stand in the best way of his imaginative and prescient, whether or not it’s a movie govt or Leonardo DiCaprio.
In an interview with GQ revealed Tuesday, the legendary filmmaker revealed that DiCaprio almost misplaced his position in 1997’s “Titanic” as a result of the not-yet-megastar initially refused to learn for the half.
“So, Leo came in of course, charmed everybody, myself included,” Cameron informed the journal concerning the casting session. “I said, ‘All right, let’s see what your chemistry’s like with Kate [Winslet].’ So he comes in a couple days later and I’ve got the camera set up to record the video.”
After years as a toddler and teenage star, DiCaprio had curated a formidable résumé at that time, having starred in main movies reverse Johnny Depp and Robert De Niro, however he had but to guide a $200-million blockbuster like “Titanic.” Winslet had already been forged within the movie.
“He came in, he thought it was another meeting to meet Kate,” Cameron informed GQ. “And I said, ‘OK, so we’ll just go in the next room and we’ll just, we’ll run some lines and I’ll video it.’ And he said, ‘You mean I’m reading?’ And I said, ‘Yeah.’ He said, ‘Oh, I don’t read.’”
Cameron recalled shaking his hand and thanking him “for coming by.” DiCaprio, who was in his early 20s, was so greatly surprised by the fairly innocuous request that he requested: “Wait, wait, wait, you mean if I don’t read I don’t get the part? Just like that?”
The “Terminator” director was adamant.
“Oh, yeah,” Cameron mentioned he informed DiCaprio. “Come on. This is like a giant movie that’s gonna take two years of my life and you’ll be gone doing five other things while I’m doing post-production and all the model work. … I’m not gonna fuck it up by making the wrong decision in casting.”
DiCaprio finally acquiesced and delivered an audition for the character of Jack Dawson with “every ounce of his entire being.” Cameron mentioned “dark clouds had opened up and a ray of sun came down and lit up Jack.”
“Titanic” grossed greater than $600 million throughout its home run, generated one other $59 million from later rereleases, and has grossed $2.2 billion worldwide so far, according to Variety.
Cameron’s movie earned 11 Academy Awards, together with Best Picture and Best Director. While DiCaprio didn’t win one for “Titanic,” his choice to audition for Cameron helped launch him into probably the most profitable careers in Hollywood — and at last an Oscar for Best Actor in 2016.
