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Reilly urged DiCaprio to ditch Titanic for Boogie Nights
6 Jun
Summary
- Reilly tried convincing DiCaprio to star in Boogie Nights instead.
- He warned DiCaprio that Titanic was about a sinking boat.
- DiCaprio ultimately starred in Titanic, which became a huge hit.
John C. Reilly shared a surprising anecdote about the making of "Titanic." He admitted on a podcast that he actively tried to persuade Leonardo DiCaprio to reject the role of Jack Dawson. Reilly believed DiCaprio would be better suited for "Boogie Nights," a film written and directed by his close friend, Paul Thomas Anderson.
Reilly, who had a strong rapport with Anderson after working on "Hard Eight," felt confident he could sway DiCaprio. He recalled telling the then-17-year-old DiCaprio that "Titanic" was a doomed project because "everyone knows the boat sinks." He emphasized Anderson's immense talent and the opportunity "Boogie Nights" represented.
Despite Reilly's fervent recommendation and his blunt warning about the "boat that sinks" film, DiCaprio's agents were convinced "Titanic" would be a massive success. Ultimately, DiCaprio opted for James Cameron's epic romance. The film went on to achieve phenomenal success, grossing $1.84 billion during its initial release. Mark Wahlberg eventually took on the lead role in "Boogie Nights," with Reilly also starring in the film.
