Leonardo DiCaprio harbors one lingering regret from his illustrious acting career. In an insightful interview with Esquire, conducted by the director of "One Battle After Another," Paul Thomas Anderson, the Oscar-honored actor confessionally revealed his "biggest regret" – turning down the opportunity to star in the 1997 film "Boogie Nights."
"I'll admit it even in your presence: My deepest regret is passing on 'Boogie Nights.' It was a cinematic gem of my generation," DiCaprio earnestly shared. "It's almost unimaginable to envision anyone but Mark [Wahlberg] in that role. Upon finally watching it, I was blown away by its brilliance. Ironically, it's you who's posing this question, yet it's an undeniable truth."
Regrettably, DiCaprio was unable to star in Anderson's film due to his prior engagement as the leading man in "Titanic." In a nostalgic 2008 interview with GQ, he expressed his heartfelt desire to have been part of both projects, lamenting the necessity to choose between them. Ultimately, "Boogie Nights" featured Mark Wahlberg as Eddie Adams, a young man who was discovered by porn director Jack Horner (portrayed by Burt Reynolds) and subsequently soared to fame as porn star Dirk Diggler.
Although DiCaprio and Anderson came close to collaborating on "Boogie Nights" in 1997, "One Battle After Another" marks their official debut as a creative duo. When Anderson inquired, "Why did it take us so long?" to work together on a film, DiCaprio responded with heartfelt enthusiasm, revealing his two-decade-long desire to collaborate.
"I'm aware that 'One Battle After Another' has lingered on your desk for quite some time," DiCaprio added thoughtfully. "It's deeply personal to you in numerous ways and resonates profoundly with the world we're currently inhabiting." He continued, "But ultimately, the reason for wanting to do this film was straightforward: I've yearned to work with you, Paul, for nearly two decades. I was entranced by the concept of a washed-up revolutionary striving to erase his past, disappear, and attempt to lead a normal life raising his daughter."
"One Battle After Another" chronicles the reunion of ex-revolutionaries who come together to aid their comrade Bob Ferguson (played by DiCaprio) in his quest to find his daughter. The film is poised for release on September 26th.
