Leonardo DiCaprio is known for his extraordinary roles in extraordinary films. Whether it be the 2010 Christopher Nolan-directed Inception in all its convoluted glory or a much more recent endeavor in the form of the apocalyptic satirical black-comedy Don’t Look Up—the range the Oscar-winning actor has exhibited through his filmography remains unbeatable. There’s a reason why directors like Nolan and Scorsese have a preference for him, after all.
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What is, however, intriguing to many is how the experienced Hollywood star, who has been in the industry for the past few decades and is notable for having played a multitude of characters across different genres, has never stepped into the world of superhero films. In fact, he’s infamous for being the one who gave popular actor Timothée Chalamet the following career principle to abide by, “No hard drugs and no superhero movies.”
But what exactly is the reason behind this? The answer to this can be traced back to a 2010 interview the actor partook in, which urged audiences to leave room for all possibilities.
Leonardo DiCaprio Was Not Ready For A Superhero Film
It’s not that the skilled Hollywood professional is reluctant to dip his feet into the jarringly complex waters of superhero cinematic universes. The actor, who was rumored to be the first choice for endeavors such as James Cameron’s unmade mid-1990s Spider-Man film, Joel Schumacher’s Batman Forever, and Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises, was simply not ready to take on the superhero franchise journey.
In an interview with Shortlist, Leonardo DiCaprio was asked about an alleged screen test that he may have been involved in when it came to Schumacher’s 1995 endeavor. To this, the Shutter Island alum stated that he never screen-tested for Batman Forever, specifically for the role of Robin.
He instead had “one meeting” with Schumacher. However, the talent decided to not go through with the role and it is for us to humorously ponder whether or not DiCaprio had a premonition about the 1995 project and its future sequel, Batman and Robin, keeping in mind the post-release critical reception for both the films.
Regardless, DiCaprio, albeit singing praises for Joel Schumacher, admitted that he did not want the role in the first place. “I don’t think I was ready for anything like that,” he stated.
This did not constitute the only time the Once Upon A Time… in Hollywood star turned down a film project that had franchise potential. It also happened with George Lucas’ Star Wars and James Cameron’s canceled Spider-Man movie. The actor supposedly engaged in a meeting with George Lucas over playing Anakin Skywalker in the Star Wars prequels.
Leonardo DiCaprio admittedly felt the same way he felt about Batman Forever; not ready to dive in for such roles. With the mid-90s Spider-Man project, the Hollywood megastar, who was approached for the titular role, stated, “I didn’t feel ready to put on that suit yet.”
Will Leonardo DiCaprio Do A Superhero Film In The Future?
The world of superhero franchises has been waiting for Leonardo DiCaprio for a long time. It is not a shocker to know that the actor was approached for so many roles in the mega-lucrative genre. For Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises, Warner Bros. executives were pushing for the inclusion of the notable Batman villain, Riddler, as per claims made by screenwriter David S. Goyer. And they were hellbent on wanting Leonardo DiCaprio for the role.
Alas, such plans never came to fruition. However, instances such as this tell us that the industry, too, is eager for the Don’t Look Up alum to embark on his on-screen superhero journey. But what does DiCaprio himself think about the possibility of one day donning the cape for such projects?
On being asked whether or not the actor would like playing a superhero, he had the following to say:
“You never know. You never know. They’re getting better and better as far as complex characters in these movies. I haven’t yet. But no, I don’t rule out anything.”
While the actor may have stuck to his steadfast career rule of no hard drugs and no superhero movies, he is not completely opposed to the idea of the latter. Perhaps, a superhero role that befits Leonardo DiCaprio and explores his full potential just hasn’t been made yet. As we all are aware, the Hollywood star is known for loving complicated and nuanced characters and their subsequent embodiment.
We can only hope that one day, the world will be able to witness the talent in a scintillating superhero suit, embracing all his heroic glory and the customary on-screen antics that come with such a role.
Source: Shortlist
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