James Cameron Says Leonardo Dicaprio Almost Lost ‘Titanic’ Over His Audition Attitude

James Cameron Says Leonardo Dicaprio Almost Lost ‘Titanic’ Over His Audition Attitude: When he and James Cameron disagreed a little during the Titanic audition process, Leonardo DiCaprio almost didn’t get to play his probably most famous and iconic character.

The Oscar-winning director spent a significant amount of time discussing his 1997 historical drama epic, which for some years ranked as the highest-grossing movie of all time, in a video career retrospective for GQ that was released on Tuesday.

Read More

In addition to his initial thought of rebuilding the doomed ship (which launched in 1911 and sank on April 15, 1912) and his preference for Gwyneth Paltrow as Rose before he met Kate Winslet, Cameron opened up about the nearly disastrous casting of Leonardo DiCaprio as Jack.

This was due to the actor’s unprofessional conduct during auditions. Cameron introduced the situation by saying, “There was a meeting with Leo and then there was a screen test with Leo. “Because I’m waiting to meet an actor in my conference room, the meeting was amusing.

I glance around and see all the female employees attending the meeting. Everyone was eager to see Leo. It was hilarious.” DiCaprio “charmed everybody” at the initial meeting, according to the director, so he was asked back for a read with Winslet, who had already been cast. 

It did not proceed as quickly. Not initially, at least. So, a few days later, Cameron remembered, “he came back, and I got the camera set up to film the footage.” “He was not aware that he would be testing. He mistook it for a second encounter with Kate. 

I responded, “Okay, let’s just go into the next room, run a few lines, and I’ll record it.” You mean I’m reading, he replied. I replied, “Yeah.” Oh, I don’t read, he said. I gave him a handshake and said, “Thank you for stopping by. He then said, “Wait, wait, wait.” 

Do I not understand the part if I don’t read it? Like that? I responded, “Oh, yeah.” Let’s go. You’ll be away doing five other things while I spend two years making this enormous movie, which will take up all of my time. I promise I won’t screw it up by choosing the wrong cast. 

 Therefore, either you read, or you won’t get the part.” According to Cameron, DiCaprio reluctantly consented to read and was angry until the camera started recording. “He therefore enters and is unbelievably negative throughout, at least until I said, “Action.” 

He later changed into Jack, “The director spoke up. “Kate instantly lit up as they staged the action. A cloud gap had allowed the sun to shine through, illuminating Jack. I reply, “All right. He is the one.”

Scroll to Top