Leonardo DiCaprio almost played James Dean in biopic from Michael Mann

nme.com:

Leonardo DiCaprio was almost cast as James Dean in a biopic after an “amazing” screen test aged 19.Director Michael Mann revealed there was a “brilliant screenplay” about the late actor which he was going to direct before 1995’s Heat, but he moved onto the crime epic because his choice for the role, DiCaprio, was “too young” for the part.Speaking to Deadline, Mann said: “That was so weird about James Dean.

It was a brilliant screenplay. And then it’s who the hell could play James Dean? And I found a chap who could play James Dean, but he was too young.

It was Leo. We did a screen test that’s quite amazing, I think he must’ve been 19 at the time.“And from one angle, he totally had it with him.

I mean, it’s brilliance. He would turn his face in one direction and we see a vision of James Dean, and then he’d turn his face another direction and it’s no, that’s a young kid.