A different actor almost played Jack in Titanic, and we’re reeling

Leonardo DiCaprio playing Jack Dawson is every bit as integral to Titanic as “My Heart Will Go On” and the “I’m flying” scene. But it turns out another A-list actor also auditioned for the coveted role, and potentially even got close to landing it. In an interview on The Hollywood Reporter’s “Awards Chatter” podcast, actor Matthew McConaughey revealed that he auditioned for the iconic part alongside Kate Winslet.

"I went and auditioned for that," he said. "I wanted that. I auditioned with Kate Winslet."

Not only that, but he was sure he’d be the one to capture Rose’s heart.

"Walked away from there pretty confident that I had it," he admitted. "I didn't get it. I never got offered that." Despite the fact that he was Paramount's favorite for the part, director James Cameron was partial to DiCaprio.

McConaughey may have been disappointed, but hey, his career still turned out alright, alright, alright. And we seriously can’t imagine anyone else matching DiCaprio and Winslet’s insane chemistry.

For her part, Winslet talked about auditioning with McConaughey last year on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and had nothing but kind things to say about the Wedding Planner actor.

"I auditioned with Matthew—isn’t that weird? Never said that in public before, she told Colbert. “I did, yes, I did. I auditioned with Matthew, which was completely fantastic. It just wouldn’t have been the whole ‘Jack and Rose, Kate and Leo’ thing.

Even weirder still? Christian Bale, Billy Crudup, and Johnny Depp also auditioned for the role of Jack. We’re just glad Leo won out in the end and got to draw Rose like one of his French girls on the Ship of Dreams.

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