Leonardo DiCaprio is one of the last great movie stars, but even he feels like he has some missed career opportunities. In an interview for Esquire‘s cover story, DiCaprio shares that he regrets not accepting the offer to star in a massively popular 1997 film.
Currently promoting One Battle After Another, DiCaprio was being interviewed by Paul Thomas Anderson — the director of their upcoming film and director of Boogie Nights. “I’ll say it even though you’re here,” DiCaprio says early in their conversation, “my biggest regret is not doing Boogie Nights.“
It wasn’t without good reason that the burgeoning movie star turned down the role in the comedy about a 1970’s porn star. By the time he was approached by Anderson to play the role of Dirk Diggler, DiCaprio had already agreed to film Titanic with James Cameron.
DiCaprio was allegedly Anderson’s first choice for Boogie Nights, but gave the role to Mark Wahlberg following DiCaprio’s suggestion. “It was a profound movie of my generation,” DiCaprio says in the Esquire interview, “I can’t imagine anyone but Mark in it.”
Related: Leonardo DiCaprio Has Unexpected Response to Criticism of His Dating Habits
Wahlberg and DiCaprio previously starred together in the 1995 film The Basketball Diaries when DiCaprio was just 20 years old. Now, 30 years later and with 50 acting credits to his name, the Killers of the Flower Moon star is thinking back on the one that got away. “When I finally got to see that movie,” he says about Boogie Nights, “I just thought it was a masterpiece.”
This isn’t the first time DiCaprio has voiced his regrets about turning down the pivotal movie. In 2008, he spoke with GQ about his decision to choose Titanic over Boogie Nights. “It would have been a different direction career wise,” he says, “I think they’re both great and wish I could have done them both.”
What is ‘Boogie Nights’?
Boogie Nights is a 1997 comedy-drama starring Mark Wahlberg, Burt Reynolds, Julianne Moore, John C. Reilly, and Don Cheadle. Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, the film centered on a young Southern California boy, Wahlberg, who gets swept up into the life of pornography. He becomes an adult film star with the moniker Dirk Diggler.
Boogie Nights became nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Screenplay. Wahlberg himself was also nominated for Best Dance Sequence at the 1998 MTV Movie and TV Awards.
