Leonardo DiCaprio Thought ‘Titanic’ Script Was ‘Boring’

Leonardo DiCaprio initially did not feel like he was the king of the world.

“Titanic” director James Cameron revealed ahead of the film’s 25th anniversary comeback that DiCaprio initially resisted helming the 1997 historical epic.

“He didn’t want to be a leading man,” Cameron said People at the Golden Globes. “I really had to twist his arm to get him into the movie. He didn’t want to do it. He thought it was boring.”

DiCaprio only “accepted” the role of Jack on the Titanic after Cameron “convinced him that it was actually a difficult challenge” for a role.

The ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ helmer added: ‘First of all, it didn’t surprise me that he made a lot of authentic decisions going forward. And secondly, I never doubted his talent.”

“Titanic” won a record 11 Academy Awards, and DiCaprio’s co-star Kate Winslet was nominated for Best Actress.

Cameron previously revealed that the studio also resisted casting DiCaprio and that he had to “fight” to land the future Oscar winner. At one point in the film, Gwyneth Paltrow almost played Rose and Matthew McConaughey played Jack.

DiCaprio didn’t even want to audition for the role, telling Cameron that he didn’t normally read for roles. Cameron recalled telling DiCaprio at the time (via GQ), “It’s a huge movie that’s going to take two years of my life, and you’re not going to do five other things while I’m doing post-production. So I’m not going to screw you up by making a bad casting decision. So, you’re going to read or you’re not going to get the part.”

Cameron continued: “So he comes in and it’s like every ounce of his being is so negative – until I said, ‘Act.’ Then he turned into Jack. Kate just lit it and they acted out the scene. Dark clouds parted and a ray of sunlight came down and illuminated Jack. I say, ‘Okay. He’s that guy.”

The director added later Deadline, “Leo, the studio didn’t want him; I had to fight for it. Kate really liked it, and then Leonardo decided he didn’t want to make the film. So I had to talk to him. I can’t imagine that movie without him and without him.”

“Titanic” returns to theaters on February 10th in a special 3D 4K release.

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