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Fox News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Matthew McConaughey lost out on 'Titanic' lead role after refusing director's request: book
Print Close By Lori Bashian Published August 07, 2025 Matthew McConaughey almost starred in one of the biggest movies of the '90s. In an excerpt of "Titanic" producer Jon Landau's memoir, "The Bigger Picture," obtained by Matthew Belloni's What I'm Hearing newsletter, the late producer detailed McConaughey's audition for the role of Jack Dawson in the Academy Award-winning movie. "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. "Kate was taken with Matthew, his presence and charm. Matthew did the scene with the drawl." According to the book, after McConaughey completed the scene in his signature Texas accent, director James Cameron told the actor, "That's great, now let's try it a different way," to which the actor allegedly responded, "No. That was pretty good. Thanks." 'YELLOWSTONE' STAR NEAL MCDONOUGH SAYS HOLLYWOOD BLACKBALLED HIM DUE TO HIS NO-KISSING RULE "Let's just say, that was it for McConaughey," Landau recalled in the book. The role famously went to Leonardo DiCaprio, who had made a name for himself in films such as "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" and "Romeo + Juliet" beforehand. However, his role as Jack Dawson led him to become an international star and teen heartthrob. McConaughey has spoken about his audition process for the film in the past, telling Rob Lowe during a 2021 appearance on his podcast, "Literally! With Rob Lowe," that after his audition, he "really thought it was going to happen." LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS "So I went and read with Kate Winslet, and it was not one of the auditions — they filmed it so it was like into screen test time," he said. "After we left, you know, it was one of those ones where they, like, followed me, and when we got outside, they were like, 'That went great.' I mean, kind of, like, hugs. I really thought it was going to happen. It did not." Winslet, who went on to receive an Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of Rose Dewitt Bukater, recalled auditioning with McConaughey while on "The Late Show" in 2017, calling his audition "completely fantastic," but admitted the movie would have been different if he was cast, adding "It just wouldn't have been the whole 'Jack and Rose, Kate and Leo' thing." While he did miss out on starring in the epic love story, McConaughey's career did not suffer. He went on to win an Academy Award for his role in "Dallas Buyers Club" and was nominated for an Emmy Award for his work on season one of "True Detective." While on Lowe's podcast, McConaughey also shut down the longstanding rumor that he was offered the role of Jack and turned it down, saying he even asked the film's director, James Cameron, to confirm he was never offered the part. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER "Not factual. I did not get offered that role," he said. "For a while, I was saying, 'I gotta find that agent. They're in trouble…'I did not ever get the offer." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Print Close URL
Fox News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Matthew McConaughey lost out on 'Titanic' lead role after refusing director's request
Matthew McConaughey almost starred in one of the biggest movies of the '90s. In an excerpt of "Titanic" producer Jon Landau's memoir, "The Bigger Picture," obtained by Matthew Belloni's What I'm Hearing newsletter, the late producer detailed McConaughey's audition for the role of Jack Dawson in the Academy Award-winning movie. "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. "Kate was taken with Matthew, his presence and charm. Matthew did the scene with the drawl." According to the book, after McConaughey completed the scene in his signature Texas accent, director James Cameron told the actor, "That's great, now let's try it a different way," to which the actor allegedly responded, "No. That was pretty good. Thanks." "Let's just say, that was it for McConaughey," Landau recalled in the book. The role famously went to Leonardo DiCaprio, who had made a name for himself in films such as "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" and "Romeo + Juliet" beforehand. However, his role as Jack Dawson led him to become an international star and teen heartthrob. McConaughey has spoken about his audition process for the film in the past, telling Rob Lowe during a 2021 appearance on his podcast, "Literally! With Rob Lowe," that after his audition, he "really thought it was going to happen." "So I went and read with Kate Winslet, and it was not one of the auditions — they filmed it so it was like into screen test time," he said. "After we left, you know, it was one of those ones where they, like, followed me, and when we got outside, they were like, 'That went great.' I mean, kind of, like, hugs. I really thought it was going to happen. It did not." Winslet, who went on to receive an Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of Rose Dewitt Bukater, recalled auditioning with McConaughey while on "The Late Show" in 2017, calling his audition "completely fantastic," but admitted the movie would have been different if he was cast, adding "It just wouldn't have been the whole 'Jack and Rose, Kate and Leo' thing." While he did miss out on starring in the epic love story, McConaughey's career did not suffer. He went on to win an Academy Award for his role in "Dallas Buyers Club" and was nominated for an Emmy Award for his work on season one of "True Detective." While on Lowe's podcast, McConaughey also shut down the longstanding rumor that he was offered the role of Jack and turned it down, saying he even asked the film's director, James Cameron, to confirm he was never offered the part. "Not factual. I did not get offered that role," he said. "For a while, I was saying, 'I gotta find that agent. They're in trouble…'I did not ever get the offer."
Los Angeles Times
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Only four teenagers have won Emmys. ‘Adolescence' star Owen Cooper deserves to join them
'Adolescence' co-creator Stephen Graham isn't exactly shy when it comes to praising Owen Cooper, the young actor at the center of his hit Netflix limited series. 'This may be a big thing to say, but I haven't seen a performance [of this caliber] from someone so young since Leo [DiCaprio] in 'What's Eating Gilbert Grape,'' Graham tells me via Zoom. 'And I say that because I love Leo and he's a good friend. And that's a performance beyond someone his age. It's the same when I watch Owen.' Not content to leave it at that, Graham later points out that he recently related a story on Graham Norton's BBC talk show about the time he told Cooper's mom that her son was the 'next Robert De Niro.' Cooper happened to be on the show too, taking it all in, smiling shyly. And wouldn't you know it, De Niro was there as well, sitting next to Cooper on the couch, giving him a tender pat on the knee. So, DiCaprio, De Niro ... Do you want to drop a Brando comparison to complete the trifecta? I ask. 'I can't find enough superlatives to describe the boy,' says Graham, who also co-wrote the show and stars as his father. Honestly, I can't either. Apart from Noah Wyle's heroic, beleaguered doctor in 'The Pitt,' you could make the case that Cooper's turn as Jamie, a 13-year-old accused of murdering a classmate, is the year's best work on television. The show's third episode, a two-hander where Jamie is interviewed and evaluated by a psychologist (Erin Doherty) at a juvenile detention facility, is an astonishing showcase, particularly when you consider that it, like all four of the series' episodes, is shot as a continuous scene. It also bears mentioning that 'Adolescence' marks Cooper's professional debut as an actor. He is now 15. It's an extraordinary story, though you have to wonder if some Emmy voters will see it that way. The Emmys have not embraced child actors over the years, with only four teenagers winning trophies: Roxana Zal, 14 when she won for her supporting role in the 1984 TV movie 'Something About Amelia'; Kristy McNichol, 15 and 17 at the time of her two supporting drama actress wins for the 1970s series 'Family'; Scott Jacoby, 16, for the 1972 TV movie 'That Certain Summer'; and Anthony Murphy for the 1971 British limited series 'Tom Brown's Schooldays.' Murphy was 17 when he won and, like Cooper, had never acted professionally. And after 'Tom Brown's Schooldays,' he never acted again, pursuing painting instead and enjoying a long career in that medium. Perhaps that explains Emmy voters' reluctance to go all in and reward young actors. Are they in it for the long haul? Or are they going to do something crazy like go off to college and chase a more stable career, like ... just about any other line of work? With Cooper, such concerns appear to be unfounded. Since 'Adolescence,' he has made a BBC comedy, 'Film Club,' starring Aimee Lou Wood, and just finished playing young Heathcliff in Emerald Fennell's upcoming adaptation of Emily Brontë's 'Wuthering Heights.' Fennell obviously saw the tortured antihero that everyone else did in 'Adolescence.' Easy to see that now. But finding the next De Niro from a pool of 500 to 600 young actors, most of them unknowns, almost all of them around Jamie's age, was a taller order. Graham says the casting team had considered looking for an older boy, given the demands of the role and the show's unsettling subject matter. 'But that age is unique,' Graham says. 'It's that breaking point. Your body is changing. Your voice is changing. We needed that authenticity.' That's all well and good. But what was it like for Doherty, a veteran actor with many credits — including Princess Anne in 'The Crown' — to take on a single-shot, 52-minute episode requiring her to parry and push and prod a young actor on his first job? 'It was definitely the cause of most of my nerves before I met Owen,' Doherty tells me. 'I was so unflinchingly aware that it is a huge ask, even for an actor who has been doing it for 40 years.' Then she met him on the first day of rehearsal, and Doherty, who says she is obsessed with the elements, saw that Cooper was a 'very earthy human being.' Grounded. Present. Real. They rehearsed for two weeks and then spent a week shooting the episode, Monday through Friday, two takes a day. They used the last take. Probably because they felt confident they had already nailed it, Doherty says that last time through was like they were 'doing it for free.' 'There was more of a playful dynamic between the two of us,' Doherty says. 'We were poking each other in ways we hadn't done before.' As Doherty's psychologist nudges Jamie to recognize truths about himself that he doesn't want to acknowledge and admit that he holds certain toxic beliefs, you see Cooper shift Jamie from guarded innocence to explosive rage and then to surrendering desperation. There are a lot of showy moments, but one of the best comes shortly after the two characters meet when Jamie lets out a yawn. 'Am I boring you?' she asks. Look at that self-satisfied smile on his face. 'That was the only time he did that,' Doherty says. 'And Owen was probably genuinely tired. But also, I'm thinking, 'This kid Jamie is really trying to push my buttons.' We were really playing a cat-and-mouse game.' With young actors, there's sometimes the perception that the director is guiding them — which, of course, is the director's job with any actor. But in that moment, you see Cooper using an accident and turning it into something malevolent. 'Owen has an unspoken magic,' Doherty says. 'That's nothing to do with his age. He has something that can't be taught, and it's always going to be with him.'
Hindustan Times
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
How world's highest-paid actor lost $650 million, spent $30K a month on wine, bought islands, faced $100 million debt
There was a time in the late 2000s and early 2010s when Johnny Depp could do no wrong. The actor was riding on the success of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, and has also been cast as Grindelwald in the Fantastic Beasts series. As a star of two billion-dollar franchise, his star was shining bright. He was the highest-paid actor in the world and one of the richest as well. But then it all went downhill, spiralling out in a way that left the Hollywood superstar on the verge of bankruptcy. Making his debut as a teen heartthrob in the 80s, Johnny Depp worked his way up in Hollywood with critically acclaimed performances in the 90s in films like Edward Scissorhands, What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Ed Wood and Donnie Brasco. But it was the Pirates of the Caribbean series (starting in 2003) that made him a global superstar. He added Public Enemies and Finding Neverland to his repertoire. In 2012, the Guinness Book of World Records recognised him as the highest-paid actor in the world, with earnings of $75 million. After he was cast in the Fantastic Beasts series, it was expected to go even higher. Around 2014, Forbes estimated Johnny Depp's net worth at $900 million, making him one of the richest actors in the world. TMG responded with a cross-complaint that called the actor 'spendthrift of epic proportions' and said he refused to control his 'selfish, reckless, and irresponsible lifestyle' despite warnings from his manager. The expenses were over $2 million a month, TMG claimed, including $30,000 a month on wine 'flown to him around the world'. Other big purchases included private islands and jewellery worth millions. TMG claimed that his exorbitant spending cost the actor more money than he was earning. In his legal battle against ex-wife Amber Heard, Johnny Depp admitted that he lost over $650 million in net worth over time. At one point, the actor had even incurred debts of over $100 million. Johnny Depp is attempting a comeback today after his financial troubles and long legal battle with Amber Heard. As per Variety, his net worth is now a relatively modest $150 million. The 61-year-old is currently filming Marc Webb's Day Drinker, which will be releasing in 2026. The film also stars Penélope Cruz and Madelyn Cline.
Buzz Feed
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
23 Movies To Watch When You Need A Good, Snot-Dripping Ugly Cry
Warning: The list below will spoil certain movies! Read at your own risk! Let's be honest: sometimes you just need a good ugly cry every now and then. So, when Reddit user MoneyLibrarian9032 asked: "What is the most depressing scene ever?" over 10k people shared their movies. Here's what they said below. 1. " The Land Before Time. You know which scene." View this video on YouTube 2. "Opening montage of Up. No lines or words spoken. Just 10 minutes of love, loss, and unfulfilled dreams. Heartbreakingly beautiful." View this video on YouTube 3. "For me, the scene in What's Eating Gilbert Grape: when the mom realizes what everyone thinks about her weight. Then there's one after where it shows her at home, kind of processing feelings that make me feel very, very, very bad for her." 6. "When Shadow gives up climbing out of the mud pit. [ Homeward Bound. ]" View this video on YouTube 7. "'Brooks was here.' I wept. The Shawshank Redemption." View this video on YouTube 9. " Lilo and Stitch. In the scene where Stitch is leaving the house with the ugly duckling book, she says, 'I'll remember you, though, I remember everyone who leaves.' I know the ending is happy, but the sadness in her voice paired with Stitch's depression and uncertainty because he believes he's causing the destruction of their lives when he's just trying to be himself and also protect himself, kills me inside. It's such a deep moment for a Disney film, and it hurts even thinking about it. It's such a beautiful moment of him sacrificing his own future for the sake of theirs." 11. "Neil Perry killing himself in Dead Poets Society." View this video on YouTube 13. " Jojo Rabbit is such a beautiful movie! Fun and charming at times, and absolutely devastating at others. Perfect movie." View this video on YouTube 14. "There are so many, but the scene in Dumbo where the mother cradles him from behind the bars destroyed me. A few years back, I was protesting outside (peacefully, just holding placards) of a circus that still used live animals, and they had an elephant that was so stressed, and I thought of her." View this video on YouTube 15. " Grave of the Fireflies." View this video on YouTube 16. "The scene in Gladiator, where Maximus comes home to find his wife and little boy slaughtered and hanging. Any dog death in a movie just kills me; I usually can't even watch them: I Am Legend, for instance." View this video on YouTube 19. "In Encanto, when they're giving abuela's backstory, and you see her village leaving but being pursued by the bad guys. Abuelo sees what's happening, kisses his babies goodbye, and goes to stop the riders. Whew. Just got dusty in here." View this video on YouTube 21. " Cast Away. When Tom Hanks' character loses Wilson. I don't even remember what the majority of the movie was like because the last time I saw it, I was super young. However, that screaming and fighting to get Wilson back, only to watch as Wilson drifts away slowly, will always be burned into my memory." View this video on YouTube Is there a movie that makes you cry unbelievably hard every time you watch it? Tell us what it is in the comments or anonymously in the Google form below.
