Leonardo DiCaporio in Avatar

What if instead of the lead in Avatar going to Sam Worthington, James Cameron had his reunion with DiCaprio? How different do you think things would have been?
 
Not so sure it would have worked. 2007-8 isn't 2015 and the Leonardo Di Caprio of The Aviator, Catch Me of You Can, The Departed, and even Shutter Island and Inception is way too much of a glamorous prettyboy to work as a veteran of the Marine Corps, Ca. a cyberpunk 22nd. Century, and The Revenant simply hasn't happened yet.

It would be like trying to cast Madonna or Lady Gaga as Eileen Wournos. Even Charlize Theron was quite a stretch.
 
Prettyboy or no Di Caprio could outact Sam Worthington in his sleep so I'm not sure I'd count him out.

That said the role doesn't seem like it would appeal to Leo much; he loves damaged anti-heroes and Jake Sully is a bit blandly heroic.
 
If there is one good upside, we are perhaps spared that brief period where Hollywood thought Sam Worthington was "the next big thing".
 
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