Leonardo DiCaprio Says Turning Down Mark Wahlberg’s 'Boogie Nights' Is His Biggest Career Regret

Leonardo DiCaprio has revealed that one of his biggest career regrets is passing on the lead role in 'Boogie Nights', a part that eventually went to Mark Wahlberg. While Wahlberg delivered an iconic performance as Eddie Adams, also known as Dirk Diggler, in Paul Thomas Anderson’s 1997 film, DiCaprio had originally been offered the role. At the time, he declined because he was already committed to James Cameron’s 'Titanic'.

During a recent chat with Anderson for 'Esquire’s Mavericks of Hollywood' edition—while discussing their upcoming project 'One Battle After Another'—Leonardo DiCaprio confessed that turning down a role in 'Boogie Nights' remains one of the career chances he most regrets missing. He described the film as one of the most significant of its generation and praised Wahlberg’s portrayal, saying he could not envision anyone else in the role. Watching the film years later, DiCaprio considered it a true masterpiece.

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Set in the 1970s, 'Boogie Nights' follows Eddie, a teenage nightclub dishwasher who is discovered by adult film director Jack Horner, played by Burt Reynolds. The story charts Eddie’s rise to stardom in the adult film industry, transforming him into the legendary Dirk Diggler. The cast also included Julianne Moore, Heather Graham, among others.

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Leonardo DiCaprio And Mark Wahlberg Collaboration

Wahlberg and Leonardo DiCaprio had worked together before 'Boogie Nights' in 'The Basketball Diaries' (1995) and reunited years later in 'The Departed' (2006). Wahlberg has previously spoken about their early tension before filming 'The Basketball Diaries', but they quickly became friends after working together on set.

After many years, Leonardo DiCaprio and Anderson have at last joined forces on the project 'One Battle After Another'. The film stars DiCaprio as Bob Ferguson, a former revolutionary figure on the run from a relentless police officer played by Sean Penn. 

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According to DiCaprio, Anderson had been developing the project for many years, and the actor was drawn to its themes and relevance to current times. He explained that his decision to join was simple—he had wanted to work with Anderson for two decades and was fascinated by the story of a man trying to leave his turbulent past behind while raising his daughter.

'One Battle After Another' is set to hit theatres on 26th September.

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