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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Harry Rutter

Leonardo DiCaprio almost lost his role in Titanic after on-set row with James Cameron

Leonardo DiCaprio narrowly avoided losing his iconic role as Jack in Titanic after a row on-set with the film's director James Cameron.

The famous movie director, 68, recalled the fiery moment he almost fired Leo during the 1997 hit-movie's audition process.

He detailed threatening to send the then 20-something actor packing after he refused to take part in a vital part of production.

James, who also famously directed Avatar, had instructed Leo to take part in a chemistry screen test alongside his co-star Kate Winslet.

"He didn't know he was going to test," Cameron said. "He came in, he thought it was another meeting to meet Kate."

James almost sent young Leo home in the 90s (Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)

James told GQ: "I said, 'okay, we'll just go in the next room we'll run some lines and I'll video it.' And [Leo] said, 'you mean I'm reading?' and I said 'Yeah.' He said, 'I don't read.'

"And I said, 'Well,' and I shook his hand and I said, 'Thanks for coming by'." Leo reportedly responded: "Wait, wait, wait. You mean if I don't read, I don't get the part, just like that?"

James says he replied: "Oh, yeah, come on, this is a giant movie. It's going to take two years of my life and you'll be gone doing five other things while I'm doing post-production.

He had refused to chemistry test with co-star Kate (CBS via Getty Images)

"All the model work and everything, so I'm not gonna f**k it up by making the wrong decision in casting, so you're gonna read or you're not gonna get the part."

It was after James' fiery rant that a rather reluctant young Leonardo agreed to take the screen test but maintained a "negative" attitude until James shouted "action" on set - when Leo 'dropped his ego'.

Luckily he finally agreed to take part in the tests (CBS via Getty Images)

"Then he turned into Jack," James said. "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'."

Titanic quickly became one of the most successful films of all time, earning $2.2billion (£1.8bn) in the Box Office. It was later trumped by James' next success, Avatar, which made $2.9billion (£2.4bn).

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