The Theodore Roosevelt biopic reportedly will be based on Edmund Morris' Pulitzer prize winning biography.
- Feb 17, 2014
AceShowbiz - Leonardo DiCaprio wants to develop a Theodore Roosevelt biopic, according to Radar Online. The Oscar nominee reportedly wants to play the former president in the movie, and eyes Martin Scorsese to sit behind the lens for the project.
"Leo is telling friends that after his latest movie proved to be a massive box office hit, he's pushing forward with his biopic of Roosevelt which will re-team him with 'The Wolf of Wall Street' director Martin Scorsese," a source claims.
The movie is allegedly based on Edmund Morris' Pulitzer prize winning biography "The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt". It is expected to follow Roosevelt from childhood to the presidency.
The actor reportedly planned the biopic years ago, but the project never took off the ground. "He says it's 'now or never' as he's patiently waited almost a decade for the money to materialize," the source said.
DiCaprio and Scorsese are frequent collaborators. They have made at least five films together with the first one being "Gangs of New York" in 2002. Both are nominated for Oscars with their latest project "The Wolf of Wall Street".
In addition to the Roosevelt rumor, the actor is reported to portray President Woodrow Wilson in a movie based on A. Scott Berg's new biography. He is also attached to produce the pic titled "Wilson (2015)".
Throughout his career, the five-time Oscar nominee has shown fine instincts when it comes to choosing roles. In an interview with Variety, he recalled his risky decision to turn down a lucrative deal with Disney to play in "Hocus Pocus" in favor of indie film "What's Eating Gilbert Grape".
"I don't know where the hell I got the nerve," he said. "You live in an environment where you're influenced by people telling you to make a lot of money and strike while the iron's hot. But if there's one thing I'm very proud of, it's being a young man who was sticking to my guns."
He also faced dilemma between choosing James Cameron's "Titanic" and Paul Thomas Anderson's "Boogie Nights". He ultimately picked the former and reached a new level of stardom, although the latter which was eventually led by Mark Wahlberg was strongly lauded as well.
