Did you know thatLeonardo DiCaprioalmost landed a role in theStar Warsprequels? Creator and director of the trilogy,George Lucaswanted the actor for a key role. The two did meet, butLeonardo DiCaprio, who was riding high on the success ofTitanicat the time, ultimately decided to pass. Who didGeorge Lucaswant this super hot star to portray? You probably already guessed it. Yes,Leonardo DiCaprioalmost played AnakinSkywalker, the futureDarth Vader.
Why didLeonardo DiCapriopass on the role? It’s the same reason he’s passed on quite a few tentpole blockbusters. He claims he just wasn’t ready to take on the responsibility of such an iconic character in what was sure to be a franchise blockbuster. You may have noticed, but the man doesn’t have many of those on is resume. Speaking withShortlistmagazine,Leonardo DiCapriorevealed the following when asked if he was in talks to play Anakin Skywalker.
“I did have a meeting withGeorge Lucasabout that as well, yes. Again, just didn’t feel ready to take that dive. At that point.”
And it sounds like he’s never been ready to take that dive. In his conversation withShortlist, the actor reveals that he took a meeting to play Robin in directorJoel Schumacher’sBatman Forever. And he was also up for the role of Peter Parker inSam Raimi’sSpider-Man. About taking on the role of Robin, he says the following.
“I never screen-tested. I had a meeting with Joel Schumacher. It was just one meeting and, no, I didn’t end up doing it. 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. [Spider-Man] was another one of those situations, similar to Robin, where I didn’t feel ready to put on that suit yet. They got in touch with me.”
The big question is, willLeonardo DiCaprioever play a superhero? There have been rumors over the years that he might appear in a DC Comics or Marvel adventure. But it sounds like that might never actually happen. What does the actor have to say about that particular scenario?
“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.”
When it comes to casting Star Wars, the franchise has always gravitated towards unknown and mostly untested talent.Star Wars: The Force Awakensintroduced the world toDaisy RidleyandJohn Boyegathese past few weeks, with the pair leading an ensemble cast of old and new characters alike. The original did the same, withA New Hopeputting the mostly unknown at the timeMark Hamill,Carrie FisherandHarrison Fordon the world stage. The prequel trilogy also worked at this notion as well. WhileLiam Neeson,Ewan McGregorandNatalie Portmanwere fairly familiar to audiences back in 1999, fans first met the completely unknownJake Lloydas a very young Anakin. And then the equally unknown at the time actorHayden Christensentook over the older version of Anakin inStar Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones.
He was later heavily criticized for his whiny performance and stiff, wooden acting. WouldLeonardo DiCapriobeen able to take the character in a different direction? Would he have saved the prequels? That is something we’ll never know, but we certainly can ponder the idea. What do you think? Would you have rather seenLeonardo DiCaprioasAnakinSkywalker?
