Stan Lee says Leonardo DiCaprio wants to play him in a movie

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Leonardo DiCaprio has made a name for himself by playing larger-than-life characters, working with the best directors, and staying away from summer blockbusters and superhero flicks. But no one is immune to the allure of the comic book world, and word is Leo is actually a huge fan of comic books, so much so he apparently wants to play the art form's most iconic figure: Stan Lee.

While speaking at HASCON recently, Lee regaled the audience by talking about his friendship with the Oscar-winning actor, who also happens to be his neighbor. Lee says the two were talking some months ago, and it turns out DiCaprio is interested in doing a movie about the Marvel juggernaut:

Believe it or not, I’ve already discussed it with Leonardo DiCaprio. He’s a neighbor of mine and we were talking one day some months ago, and he said, “Boy it’d be fun to do your story on the screen.” So I said, “Well, I’ll audition you.” Gotta make sure the guy can do it.

DiCaprio isn’t just a fan of the man himself, but also of his work, and Lee said his house is littered with Marvel memorabilia:

He has all the walls covered with big Marvel posters and everything. He’s got very good taste.

This isn’t the first comic book-related movie the actor has been linked to recently. A little over a week ago word came out that Warner Bros. is looking to nab DiCaprio to play the Joker in their origin story about the Batman villain, though nothing has developed on that front. We've seen actors and filmmakers work with both Marvel and DC before, so if DiCaprio was willing, he could find himself taking on two of the most high-profile roles in his career.

Of course, odds are slim DiCaprio will play either of these roles, but there's no doubt Lee has certainly lived an extraordinary life and is responsible for fueling the imaginations of virtually every person on the planet. His characters, like Spider-Man, Hulk, The Fantastic Four and countless other, have stood the test of time, and Lee himself has become a national treasure. Surely it’s time for him to get his biopic, and DiCaprio has proven he can do just about anything. I think the chances of him playing a real-life figure like Lee is more practical than him doing a Joker origin story. Plus, who wouldn't see a Martin Scorsese-directed, AVIATOR-style take on Lee's life?