Leonardo DiCaprio is a beloved star, a five-time Oscar nominee who could be well on his way to his sixth, coming off The Revenant. But on a few occasions, he was almost something much more eternal: a Jedi Knight and a superhero.
In an interview with ShortList, DiCaprio confirmed long-held rumors that he was indeed approached for a trio of iconic roles in big budget blockbusters. Perhaps most relevant to the current cinematic climate, the actor almost took on the role of Anakin Skywalker in the Star Wars prequels, a part that eventually went to Hayden Christensen.
“I did have a meeting with George Lucas about that as well, yes,” DiCaprio told the website, adding that he passed because he “just didn’t feel ready to take that dive. At that point.”
It was a similar story with putting on the cape and mask of the boy wonder himself, Robin, in Batman Forever. “I never screen-tested,” he revealed. “I had a meeting with Joel Schumacher. It was just one meeting and, no, I didn’t end up doing it.” Asked whether it was even a role he wanted before talking with Schumacher, DiCaprio couldn’t help but laugh. “Er, I don’t think I did, no. As I recall I took the meeting, but didn’t want to play the role. Joel Schumacher is a very talented director but I don’t think I was ready for anything like that.”
He had the same reaction when approached to wear Spider-Man’s webs back when he was rumored for the role in James Cameron’s scuttled adaptation. Now that well established stars are wearing super suits all over the place, however, DiCaprio isn’t as hesitant about taking part in superhero film. “You never know,” the actor said. “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.”
