Johnny Depp Turned Down World’s 4th Highest Grossing Movie That Made Leonardo DiCaprio an Overnight Sensation

Titanic held the title of the highest-grossing film until it was surpassed by another James Cameron masterpiece, Avatar.

The tale of love between individuals from diverse social backgrounds aboard the supposedly “unsinkable” ship has resonated globally.

Despite multiple Academy Award nominations, it was the remarkable performance of a young Leonardo DiCaprio, paired with co-star Kate Winslet, that truly shone.

But did you know that Johnny Depp was also in the running for a coveted role in the movie?

A still of Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio from Titanic (1997)

Before Leonardo DiCaprio secured the role, numerous top-tier actors, including Johnny Depp, were under consideration for the character of Jack Dawson in Titanic.

Depp was even offered the role, a decision he now regards as his “greatest regret.”

Yet, it leaves one pondering the rationale behind the Pirates of the Caribbean actor’s decision to decline Titanic.

Why Did Johnny Depp Turn Down The Role?

During the 1990s, Johnny Depp held a position as one of Hollywood’s most sought-after actors.

Following an audition, he made it to the final list and was ultimately extended an offer to play the character of Jack. Yet, he declined the role.

Depp explained that he rejected the part due to the daunting length of the 180-page script, which he found challenging to navigate.

Johnny Depp

Considering that the typical feature film script falls within the range of 90 to 120 pages, a script spanning 180 pages would roughly equate to a three-hour epic.

In the context of the ’90s, when most movies clocked in at under two hours, a 180-page script indeed appeared as a substantial undertaking.

However, this wasn’t the sole factor. Johnny Depp articulated that he struggled through approximately 15 pages of Titanic and subsequently opted against accepting the role.

It was evident that the actor had reservations about the project.

Depp wasn’t alone in his reservations about the script. In fact, James Cameron revealed that even Leonardo DiCaprio had initial hesitations about taking on the role.

Johnny Depp Might Return For Pirates Of The Caribbean

Johnny Depp’s potential return to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise is on the horizon, as one of the series’ producers, Jerry Bruckheimer, expressed his strong desire to witness the actor once again step into the shoes of Captain Jack Sparrow in the upcoming sixth installment.

Bruckheimer informed Entertainment Tonight:

“We’re all working on it [the next Pirates film]. We’ll see how it comes out. We’re very excited, I think we’re gonna have a great screenplay when, and we’re getting close.”

Johnny Depp

This revelation may come as a surprise not only to fans but also to Johnny Depp himself, considering that he was deeply immersed in a legal battle for most of the previous year, entangled in a libel dispute with his former spouse, Amber Heard.

The courtroom showdown stemmed from a 2018 op-ed written by Heard for the Washington Post.

In the article, she asserted that she had experienced both sexual and physical abuse but refrained from explicitly naming Johnny Depp.

Titanic is available for streaming on Paramount+ and Apple TV.