After three decades in the movie business, Leonardo DiCaprio is clearly at the top of his game.
He began his career as a child actor in the late 1980's, appearing in commercials and TV shows before landing his very first film role in the horror flick Critters 3. Just a few years later he gained international recognition for his role as a disabled teenager in the 1993 drama What's Eating Gilbert Grape - a performance that earned him his first Academy Award nomination. He then went on to star in Titanic; a role that cemented him as an up-and-coming star.
It took many years for Leonardo to take home an Oscar, but he finally managed his big win in 2015 for playing the ill-fated Hugh Glass in the survival drama The Revenant.
Today, we are looking back at the movie roles Leonardo has turned down, as well as a few he probably should have passed on.
15 Rejected: He Declined To Play Junior In Sin City
Leonardo DiCaprio was offered the chance to join the cast of Frank Miller's Sin City, but he declined the role. He was offered the part of Junior, but decided that it wasn't quite right for him. The part eventually went to Nick Stahl. Interestingly, Steve Buscemi also passed on this role.
14 Rejected: DiCaprio Dropped Out Of The Matrix After Deciding He Didn't Want To Do Another Film With So Many Special Effects
Brad Pitt, Will, Smith, and Leonardo DiCaprio were all approached to play Neo in The Matrix, according to the film's producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura. DiCaprio initially said yes to the part, but then later decided to drop out. He claimed he didn't want to do another heavy special effect movie so soon after Titanic.
13 Should Have Rejected: The Beach Didn't Do His Career Any Favors
Many film critics felt that there was just too much going on in the 2000 drama film The Beach. While the scenery was beautiful, and Leonardo DiCaprio gave a great performance, the story felt muddled, and the excitement of a hidden island got lost among irrelevant plotlines. Not DiCaprio's finest movie choice.
12 Rejected: Leonardo Chose To Make The Aviator Instead Of The Dreamers
The role of Matthew in The Dreamers could have been played by Leonardo DiCaprio but he had to turn down the offer because he was already committed to The Aviator. Jake Gyllenhaal was also considered for the part but he wasn't keen on the nude scenes. Michael Pitt, who looks a lot like DiCaprio, was finally cast as Matthew.
11 Rejected: He Was Too Busy With Other Projects To Appear In Hocus Pocus
Leonardo DiCaprio wasn't able to take the role of Max in Hocus Pocus due to other commitments, but he did leave a lasting impression on the director Kenny Ortega. When Ortega met the young actor he said he "completely and absolutely" fell in love and was more inspired than ever to find the right actor for Max.
10 Should Have Rejected: Young Leonardo Seemed Out Of His Element In The Man In The Iron Mask
After the success of Titanic, Leonardo DiCaprio became one of the most sought after actors in the industry. The next film he did was The Man in the Iron Mask and although the film was a success, many felt that DiCaprio seemed out of his element in this period drama.
9 Rejected: He Could Have Starred In Boogie Nights, But He Was Already Committed To Titanic
Leonardo DiCaprio was offered the role of Dirk Diggler in the 1997 film Boogie Nights but after some consideration, he decided to turn down the role and make Titanic instead. It seems to have worked out for the best; Mark Wahlberg stepped in as Diggler and Leo got to make his biggest hit movie.
8 Rejected: He Was Personally Offered A Role In Angels & Demons By Tom Hanks, But Said No
Tom Hanks was so impressed with Leonardo DiCaprio after working with him on Catch Me If You Can, that he personally offered him a role in Angels & Demons. Leo could have played the role of Camerlengo Patrick McKenna but he passed on the offer and Ewan McGregor was cast instead.
7 Should Have Rejected: He Gave His All For Clint Eastwood's J. Edgar, But It Wasn't Enough
Leonardo DiCaprio has a true talent for playing real-life characters but it might have been too much, even for him, to attempt to portray the face of American surveillance; J. Edgar Hoover. DiCaprio gave his all in this Clint Eastwood directed biopic but it just wasn't enough to make it believable.
6 Rejected: He Was The Top Choice For American Psycho
When the casting for American Psycho began, the studio was keen for Leo to take on the role of Patrick Bateman. But his fan base wasn't happy about him playing such a violent character and he eventually dropped out of the project. Although many told him it would be career suicide, Christian Bale stepped in as the lead.
5 Rejected: Leo Was Considered For Spider-Man, But He Wasn't Ready To Play A Superhero
Back in the 90s, Titanic director James Cameron was planning to make a Spider-Man movie, and even went as far as to create a screenplay and start looking around for actors. He approached Leonardo DiCaprio to play the young superhero but it didn't quite seem like the right role for him at the time.
4 Should Have Rejected: DiCaprio Seemed Hopelessly Miscast In Total Eclipse
Don't worry if you've never heard of this film because it didn't enjoy much press when it was released; mainly due to the then-scandalous subject matter (two young male poets in love). Many critics felt that casting Leonardo DiCaprio as one of the leads was a mistake, as he seemed out of place for the role.
3 Rejected: DiCaprio Passed On The Chance To Play Anakin Skywalker In Star Wars: Episode II - Attack Of The Clones
George Lucas had Leonardo Dicaprio in mind for the role of Anakin Skywalker in the Star Wars prequel films and even scheduled a meeting to discuss the part. But DiCaprio decided that he wasn't "ready to take that dive at that point" and decided to turn down the role which then went to Hayden Christensen.
2 Rejected: Leo Wasn't Interested In Batman Forever But Did Meet With The Director
Joel Schumacher was keen for Leonardo DiCaprio to play the role of Robin in Batman Forever. "As I recall I took the meeting but didn’t want to play the role," Leo said. "Joel Schumacher is a very talented director but I don’t think I was ready for anything like that."
1 Should Have Rejected: Critters 3 Was Leo's First Movie And It Went Straight To Video
Every actor has to start somewhere and for a young Leonardo DiCaprio, that somewhere was the set of the low-budget horror flick Critters 3. This was his film debut and he really gave it his all as a skating-obsessed tween. The film ended up going straight to video but Leo did have his first film credit under his belt.