Fact: I Had No Idea Matthew McConaughey Almost Played That Role
Turns out his surprising almost-roles didn’t stop at Jack Sparrow.
When you think of Titanic, you think of Leonardo DiCaprio as Jack Dawson — the charming, penniless artist who wins Rose’s heart, don't you? It’s hard to imagine anyone else delivering that 'I’m the king of the world!' moment.
Imagine my surprise when I found out fact that, before DiCaprio was cast, the role was reportedly offered to Matthew McConaughey. YHe even auditioned opposite Kate Winslet. In the end, James Cameron went with DiCaprio, and the rest is movie history.
And yes, in case you didn’t know: this wasn’t McConaughey’s only near-miss with an iconic role. He was also in the running to play Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean — a part that, of course, went to Johnny Depp and became one of the most memorable characters in modern cinema.
So the next time you watch Titanic or Pirates, imagine an alternate reality where McConaughey is standing on the bow of the ship… or swaggering across the deck with a compass in hand. It’s a fun 'what if' for movie fans — and proof that Hollywood history is full of roles that almost went a completely different way.
