| Leo's Con Man Catch |
Since making a splash with Titanic, Leonardo DiCaprio's been as choosy as Jodie Foster with his film projects, although his name's been attached to everything from Spider-Man (which just went to pal Tobey Maguire) to Star Wars: Episode II. According to Variety, Leo's instead likely to star in Catch Me if You Can for DreamWorks, the title of which could easily apply to studios' pursuit of the $20 million-a-film heartthrob. Catch is the true story of teenage con man Frank Abagnale Jr., who received the dubious distinction of being the only teenager ever placed on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted List. In the 1960s, the charming con artist passed himself off as a co-pilot and flew more than 2 million miles without paying a cent. He also pretended to be a pediatrician, an assistant attorney general, and a professor of American history at a French university. By the time he was finally caught, Abagnale had written $6 million in bad checks in all 50 states and in 26 countries — all before his 18th birthday. In other words, it's a dream role for an actor, and one tailored for 25-year-old Leo's still-youthful appearance. Leo, who was last in theaters with The Beach, is in final negotiations to star in Catch, which is slated to begin shooting by March 2001. He's currently committed to star in Gangs of New York, which has an August start date in Rome. Gore Verbinski (Mouse Hunt and the upcoming The Mexican) is the front-runner to direct the picture, with Fight Club's David Fincher also being mentioned. |
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