In an interview with Variety, Leonardo DiCaprio admits he turned down a role in Hocus Pocus. The 1993 Disney film went on to become a Halloween classic and is still played every Halloween as a sort of tradition.
DiCaprio was offered the role at the young age of 18 for Max Dennison, who was eventually played by Omri Katz, who stars in Dallas. Even after being offered “more money than [he] could of imagined,” he was holding out for a role he hadn’t even auditioned for yet.
In 1993, DiCaprio starred in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? He earned his first Oscar nomination at the age of 19 for his supporting role in the movie. Losing out on Hocus Pocus was a small price to pay for the start of his career as a credible actor.
In the interview, DiCaprio says, “You live in an environment where you're influenced by people telling you to make a lot of money and strike while the iron’s hot. But if there’s one thing I'm very proud of, it’s being a young man who was sticking to my guns.”
DiCaprio is nominated for an Academy Award this year for Best Performance By an Actor in A Leading Role for his latest work in The Wolf of Wall Street. Earlier this week, it seemed that he had already won the category, according to a botched CNN broadcast.
Watch The Academy Awards on March 2 on ABC to find out if DiCaprio takes home a statue.