"He wasn’t even considered" - Netizens react to Ethan Hawke saying he is relieved he didn’t land the role of Jack in ‘Titanic’

Ethan Hawke recently revealed that he auditioned for the role of Jack in James Cameron's Titanic, a part which ultimately went to Leonardo DiCaprio. The 1997 classic, starring DiCaprio as Jack Dawson and Kate Winslet as Rose DeWitt Bukater, won 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

In hindsight, Hawke believed the failed audition turned out in his favor, candidly admitting that he was not built to handle the fame that the movie catapulted the lead actors into in a recent interview with GQ UK, dated September 1, 2025.

Additionally, Hawke gave Leonardo DiCaprio his flowers for handling the movie's success admirably, likening him to The Beatles.

“I don’t think I would have handled that success as well as Leo. He was a f*cking Beatle,” Hawke said.

Ethan Hawke's recent revelation was met with mixed responses from netizens on X, with one user writing:

"He wasn’t even considered."

Several netizens echoed similar sentiments, adding that they believed they would not have enjoyed the movie as much if Ethan Hawke had played the protagonist instead of DiCaprio.

However, others commended Hawke for his honesty in the interview, adding that he was "keeping it real" about the tolls of fame and popularity on actors.

Ethan Hawke said he was "allergic" to being identified as a "movie star"

In his recent interview with GQ UK, Ethan Hawke explored his long-spanning career and explained why he chose to take the non-traditional route when compared to many of his industry peers, who chose blockbuster flicks over indie movies. The Dead Poets Society actor stated that he never saw himself as a "movie star," adding that he was allergic to the moniker.

“I never self-identified as a ‘movie star’. I was allergic to that. Having a trademark by my name and making a million dollars – that wasn’t part of my dream.”

Furthermore, Ethan Hawke said that he was "super interested in the people who made a real contribution to the arts," which influenced him to choose the projects that he worked on. The actor recently reunited with frequent collaborator Richard Linklater for the upcoming movie Blue Moon.

The pair have worked together on nine films, including the Before trilogy, which comprises Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, and Before Midnight. Speaking to GQ Magazine, Linklater praised Hawke for his involvement in the trilogy, saying:

“A careerist, someone who was worried about being the next whatever, would be going, ‘Uh, this seems risky, this could set my career back, I’m not gonna do this.’ Ethan was kinda like, ‘Huh, how the f*ck do we pull this off?’ That’s the difference between a full-on movie star and an artist.”

Elsewhere in the interview, Ethan Hawke made a rare comment on his high-profile marriage to Kill Bill actress Uma Thurman. The pair, who are parents to Stranger Things star Maya Hawke, were married between 1998 and 2005.

Hawke said the public attention and scrutiny the couple received during their relationship was "humiliating," further cementing his belief that he wanted to stay away from the limelight.

Ethan Hawke has three projects releasing in 2025. He will star as Lee Raybon in the upcoming FX series The Lowdown, which will premiere on September 23. Additionally, he will reprise his role in the horror sequel, Black Phone 2, slated for release on October 17. Hawke will also play songwriter Lorenz Hart in the biopic Blue Moon, scheduled for nationwide premiere in the US on October 24, following a limited theatrical release on October 17.

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With a strong love for the English language cultivated from a childhood filled with reading, Juhi aims to take her readers on a literary journey with every word she writes.

When she's not busy putting her pen to paper, Juhi can be found indulging in her hobbies, such as embroidering and crocheting, while binge-watching TV shows.

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Edited by Arunava Dutta