12 Actors You Didn't Know Almost Played Superheroes

3. Leonardo DiCaprio As Spider-Man

Superhero Movie Casting Spiderman Leonardo DiCaprio
Sony Pictures

Highly regarded and Oscar winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio has a long and varied acting resumé, so it's surprising that he hasn't yet donned a superhero suit. However, that isn't because one hasn't been offered to him. Back during casting for the original Spider-Man franchise, DiCaprio was approached to play the role.

He ultimately felt the role wasn't for him, however. In an interview with ShortList, he detailed turning down roles for both Robin in a Batman movie installment as well as that of the role of Peter Parker. "That was another one of those situations, similar to Robin, where I didn’t feel ready to put on that suit yet." The web-slinging role ultimately went to his pal and posse member Tobey Maguire, but one can't help but notice the "yet" attached to DiCaprio's statement and hold out hope for a place in a superhero franchise for Leo.

Contributor
Contributor

Holland Baker is based in New York City, where she is an editor, writer and co-host of Whatever It Takes: A Degrassi Podcast. In her free time, you can find her searching for bodega cats, eating mass amounts of pizza and using humor as a defense mechanism.