Matthew McConaughey lost out on this iconic film role after refusing to do one thing
Matthew McConaughey is known for his Southern drawl, which helped make him a star but it cost him one major role.
According to a new memoir from record-breaking producer Jon Landau, McConaughey refused to drop his accent during an audition for the role of Jack in “Titanic.”
“We brought him in to do a scene with Kate [Winslet]. You want to check for chemistry, not just how people look on film but how they interact,” Landau wrote in “The Bigger Picture,” per Matthew Belloni’s “What I’m Hearing” newsletter.
“Kate was taken with Matthew, his presence and charm. Matthew did the scene with the drawl,” the producer, who worked on “Titanic” and the “Avatar” films said.
“Titanic” director James Cameron apparently told McConaughey, “That’s great. Now let’s try it a different way.”
According to Landau’s memoir, McConaughey replied, “No. That was pretty good. Thanks.”
The role of Jack Dawson, the orphaned artist from Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, ultimately went to Leonardo DiCaprio. It was a breakout role for DiCaprio, and the film went on to win 11 of its 14 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director for Cameron.
But DiCaprio wasn’t a lock for the role right away either.
According to a 2022 interview with GQ, DiCaprio, who had initially “charmed everyone” in his first meeting, told Cameron “Oh I don’t read,” when asked to read lines alongside Winslet in a test shoot.
‘I shook his hand and said, ‘Thanks for coming by,’” Cameron recalled.
He continued, saying DiCaprio asked, “Wait, wait, wait. If I don’t read, I don’t get the part? Just like that?”
The director responded, “Oh, yeah. Come on. This is a giant movie that is going to take two years of my life, and you’ll be gone doing five other things while I’m doing post-production. So, I’m not going to f--k it up by making the wrong decision in casting. So, you’re going to read, or you’re not going to get the part.'”
Cameron felt DiCaprio was moody and “negative” right up until the cameras rolled for the test, “Then he turned into Jack.”
“Kate just lit up, and they played the scene. Dark clouds had opened up, and a ray of sun came down and lit up Jack. I’m like, ‘All right. He’s the guy,’” Cameron added.
