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From beginning his acting career as a teenager to working with the most prolific filmmakers in Hollywood, Leonardo DiCaprio’s journey to the top has been an inspirational one. TheTitanicstar with the attractive boyish looks is one of the few celebrities who can boast of collaborations with James Cameron, Steven Spielberg, Christopher Nolan, Martin Scorsese, and Quentin Tarantino who make up the industry’s greatest minds.
In 2011, DiCaprio also realized his dream of working with another Hollywood giant, actor and director Clint Eastwood in the biopicJ. Edgarbased on the life of the pioneering FBI director.The Aviatorstar who was already earning huge paychecks from his blockbusters, surprisingly did this film for a very modest sum of money despite having the power to demand much more.
Also Read:Before Being Pushed to Play Riddler, Leonardo DiCaprio Almost Played Another DC Hero in $336M Batman Movie
Leonardo DiCaprio Earned A Surprisingly Low Amount ForJ. Edgar
In 2011, veteran Hollywood filmmakerClint EastwooddirectedLeonardo DiCaprioinJ. Edgar, a biopic based on the life of the first director of the FBI, J.Edgar Hoover. The film was offered to Eastwood with a restrictive budget of $35 million which proved to be a difficult task considering the potential scale of the production. But the desire to bring to life one of 20th century’s greatest American influencers made both Eastwood and DiCaprio take up the challenge. The Oscar winning director spoke toHollywood Reporterand praisedThe Departedactor for his willingness to play the character despite being offered a significantly small payday.
“He could have made a lot of money just doing spectacle movies with all kinds of CGI. But he wants to vary his career, like I’ve always looked to vary mine as a director.”
DiCaprio who earned just $2 million for this film as opposed to his usual $20 million, is no stranger to period films and biopics, having appeared in films likeThe Aviator, Revolutionary Road,andCatch me of you Can.The actor though, despite understanding the aesthetics of the genre, did not see eye to eye with Eastwood on many aspects and vowed to not work with the director in the future. The instance that led to this decision was a moment on set when Eastwood did not heed DiCaprio’s request for an extra take and instead, wrapped up filming for the day.
Also Read:“We need to do more”: Leonardo DiCaprio Is Frustrated With One Mistake That Hollywood Keeps Repeating, Aims To Fix It In Martin Scorsese’s Next Movie
Leonardo DiCaprio Went The Extra Mile To Become J. Edgar Hoover
A look into Leonardo DiCaprio’s career will show that the actor has consistently taken up challenging roles and executed them with ease. The ability to do this comes with a dogged determination to bring out the best in each character and DiCaprio has done that time and again through his films. It was no different forThe Wolf of Wall Streetstar when he signed on forJ.Edgardirected by Clint Eastwood. The celebrity proved his passion for cinema when he chose to sweat it out for hours in the make-up chair to get the look of the character to perfection. According to producer Robert Lorenz’s statement toHollywood Reporter,
“We discussed the idea of relying on visual effects to make it easier for the actors. But Leo was insistent. He wanted to be sure it was going to look right.”
Leonardo DiCaprio’s patience and persistence paid off as the star was able to convincingly portray the enigmatic director of the FBI with his trademark confidence and conviction.
Also Read:“You want to make a movie about fightin’ robots?”: Seth Rogen Stopped Leonardo DiCaprio’s Wolf of Wall Street Co-Star from Joining Mark Wahlberg’s Transformers Franchise
Source:Hollywood Reporter
Sharanya Sankar
Senior Writer
Articles Published :1230
Sharanya Sankar, Writer for FandomwireHaving completed her Masters degree in Journalism and Mass Communication, Sharanya has a solid foundation in writing which is also one of her passions. She has worked previously with Book My show for a couple of years where she gained experience reviewing films and writing feature articles. Sharanya’s articles on film and pop culture have also been published on Film Companion, a popular film-based website. Apart from movies and pop culture, her interests include music and sports. She has contributed over 650 articles to Fandomwire so far.
