Leonardo Di Caprio: 'I turned down the chance to play Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars'

Leonardo Di Caprio has revealed that he once turned down the chance to play Anakin Skywalker in the Star Wars prequels.

The actor confirmed that he met with George Lucas to discuss taking the role in Star Wars Episode II: Attack Of The Clones and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith. The part eventually went to Hayden Christensen.

"I did have a meeting with George Lucas about that, yes," he said. "I just didn’t feel ready to take that dive. At that point."

Di Caprio also revealed that he turned down the chance to play Robin in Batman Forever and Spider-Man ahead of Tobey Maguire.

He told Shortlist: "I never screen-tested (for the part of Robin). I had a meeting with Joel Schumacher. It was just one meeting and, no, I didn’t end up doing it. As I recall I took the meeting, but didn’t want to play the role. Joel Schumacher is a very talented director but I don’t think I was ready for anything like that."

Di Caprio continued: "That (Spider-Man) was another one of those situations, similar to Robin, where I didn’t feel ready to put on that suit yet. They got in touch with me."

But the actor has not ruled out playing a superhero in the future. "You never know, you never know," he added. "They’re getting better and better as far as complex characters in these movies. I haven't yet. But no, I don't rule out anything."

Di Caprio recently refuted the suggestion that his character is "raped by a bear" in his new film The Revenant, which is due out in the UK on January 15.

Source: NME / Time UK

I didn't know this. Thanks for the great info. They should a built a new super hero role around him. He is so talented he can pull of any kinda role. Maybe Snort-a-tor he saves the world by snorting up all the coke in the world thereby helping the kids. What say @chinski.

Lol @mushroomz he can truly pull off ANY role he does, he's incredibly talented. That's why I hope he wins an award for The Revenant. Any movie he's in he's spectacular.

I know he so talented. I love all his movies but my favorite out of all is The Beach. I haven't seen the revenant. I am sure it will be good.