unilad homepage
unilad homepage
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • World News
    • Crime
    • Health
    • Money
    • Sport
    • Travel
  • Music
  • Technology
  • Film and TV
    • News
    • DC Comics
    • Disney
    • Marvel
    • Netflix
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Leonardo DiCaprio reveals the one career move that was he says was his biggest 'regret'
Home>Celebrity>News
Published 18:35 15 Aug 2025 GMT+1

Leonardo DiCaprio reveals the one career move that was he says was his biggest 'regret'

DiCaprio couldn't imagine anyone else playing the character now

Britt Jones

Britt Jones

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover
Featured Image Credit: Emma McIntyre/WireImage via Getty Images

Topics: Mark Wahlberg, Leonardo DiCaprio, Celebrity, Film and TV

Britt Jones
Britt Jones

Advert

Advert

Advert

Leonardo DiCaprio has starred in a catalogue of defining Hollywood films, but there’s one he regrets not taking part in.

It’s hard to imagine DiCaprio regretting any career move, considering everything he’s ever been in has turned to gold. The 50-year-old actor has been in numerous hits such as Titanic, Romeo and Juliet, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, The Revenant, Inception, Shutter Island, Catch Me If You Can, The Wolf of Wall Street, and so many more.

Honestly, if I listed everything he’s been in, then chances are that you’re going to have heard of every single one of them.

However, the grass is always greener on the other side, and even hugely successful actors, like DiCaprio or even Will Smith, for that matter, are also privy to the 'what ifs' of life.

Advert

Leonardo DiCaprio detailed a film Mark Wahlberg landed instead of him (Karwai Tang/WireImage)
Leonardo DiCaprio detailed a film Mark Wahlberg landed instead of him (Karwai Tang/WireImage)

When chatting with Esquire, the actor revealed the film role he'd wished he'd taken - Eddie Adams in 1997's Boogie Nights, which ended up going to Mark Wahlberg.

The film tells the story of Eddie, a dishwasher who works in a nightclub in the 70s. When Eddie is approached by filmmaker Jack Horner (Burt Reynolds), he ends up breaking into the porn industry under the name of Dirk Diggler.

While DiCaprio was offered it first, he had already booked to play beloved Jack Dawson in James Cameron’s Titanic at the time, and let’s be honest…he made a good call.

But DiCaprio still decided to bring it up with Boogie Nights' director, Paul Thomas Anderson, with the Don't Look Up star telling him: “I’ll say it even though you’re here: My biggest regret is not doing Boogie Nights.”

However, the Revenant star admitted that now he couldn't imagine anyone but Wahlberg in the role, as he continued to say: "It was a profound movie of my generation. I can’t imagine anyone but Mark in it. When I finally got to see that movie, I just thought it was a masterpiece.

The role ended up going to Marky Mark (New Line Cinema)
The role ended up going to Marky Mark (New Line Cinema)

"It’s ironic that you’re the person asking that question, but it’s true."

But while he didn't get to do Boogie Nights with Anderson, they have a new film lined up called One Battle After Another, which stars the actor as Bob Ferguson, a man being hunted by Sean Penn's Steven Lockjaw investigator.

DiCaprio explained how it has been on the director's desk 'for a long time', adding: “But ultimately, wanting to do this movie was pretty simple: I’ve been wanting to work with you - Paul - for something like 20 years now.

“And I loved this idea of the washed-up revolutionary trying to erase his past and disappear and try and live some sort of normal life raising his daughter.”

One Battle After Another hits theatres on September 26.

Choose your content:

an hour ago
3 hours ago
5 hours ago
6 hours ago
  • Club Random Podcast / Youtube
    an hour ago

    Kevin Spacey feels 'much more welcomed' in Hollywood as he downplays misconduct allegations as a 'small kitchen fire’

    The actor defended his past actions on Club Random, comparing his industry blacklisting to a baseball player being unfairly benched.

    Celebrity
  • YouTube/Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard
    3 hours ago

    Olivia Wilde reveals extraordinary way Walton Goggins 'saved her life'

    Olivia Wilde revealed her experience with Walton Goggins on Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast

    Celebrity
  • David Livingston/Getty Images
    5 hours ago

    The Ring star Daveigh Chase, 35, cause of death confirmed to be AIDS

    Chronic polysubstance use was also listed as a significant factor in her death

    Celebrity
  • Noam Galai/Getty Images for Hearst Magazines
    6 hours ago

    Jesse Eisenberg reveals real reason why he didn't want to be Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network sequel

    Jesse Einsenberg portrayed the Facebook founder in the first 2010 movie

    Celebrity
  • Leonardo DiCaprio reveals his 'favorite actor of all time' and says they have the 'golden relationship' of cinema
  • Golden Globes viewers attempt to work out what Leonardo DiCaprio was mouthing during 'sassy' ad break moment
  • Netflix is adding 94% rated Leonardo DiCaprio movie labeled ‘the GOAT of cinema’
  • Jelly Roll reveals his next career move as Bunnie Xo opens up about end of their 10-year marriage