John C. Reilly Tried to Convince Leonardo DiCaprio to Pass on ‘Titanic’: ‘No One’s Going to Give a S, About Who’s on the Boat’

Article excerpt

John C. Reilly recently revealed on a podcast that he once tried to talk Leonardo DiCaprio out of taking the lead role in 'Titanic,' instead pitching him on starring in 'Boogie Nights' alongside Reilly himself. During an appearance on Ted Danson's "Where Everybody Knows Your Name" podcast, Reilly recalled his pitch to DiCaprio: "No one's going to give a shit about who's on the boat." Reilly and director Paul Thomas Anderson, close collaborators at the time, were hoping DiCaprio would join their project instead. Of course, DiCaprio chose 'Titanic,' which became a cultural and commercial phenomenon, while 'Boogie Nights' became a critical darling but far smaller affair.