Actors Jonah Hill and Leonardo DiCaprio first collaborated together back in 2013, when they both received Oscar nominations for their work in The Wolf of Wall Street. The duo reunited on Netflix's Don't Look Up, which gave DiCaprio the opportunity to try turning Hill into a Star Wars fan.
Although Don't Look Up does revolve around the concept of space, Hill has revealed that despite DiCaprio's strong-willed attempts at turning him into a Star Wars fan, it just didn’t work. Hill recently confessed that he doesn’t usually watch science-fiction films or television series. It’s quite interesting to know after hearing this statement from Hill that he did decide to sign onto a project like Don’t Look Up, given that it is arguably in the Science Fiction genre.
Hill stated to W Magazine, “I used to have a rule: If it didn’t happen or it couldn’t happen, then I just wasn’t interested, because I would lose focus.” Don't Look Up gave Hill the opportunity to sink his teeth into a whole new world - or more literally a new galaxy. However, it also gave DiCaprio the opportunity to finally get Hill to give the beloved Disney Plus Star Wars series, The Mandalorian, a chance. Hill did give the show the good old college try but ended up being extremely confused while watching it.
It’s hard for anyone to try and step into a franchise like Star Wars that is so established, with so much history and nuanced details that trace back decades. Star Wars fans from the very beginning are still trying to piece together and re-evaluate certain plot lines and timelines. Hill shared, “Leo made me watch The Mandalorian when we were making Don’t Look Up, and it was like, Baby Yoda is so cute, but I just don’t give a fuck because I didn’t know anything that it was about."
With Hill and DiCaprio being nominated for actor and best supporting actor for their work on The Wolf of Wall Street, it further emphasized how much of a true pair these two were. Off-screen, the two stars are also good friends and, as mentioned, recently got the chance to reunite for director Adam McKay's Don’t Look Up, which was released back in December. Despite the more disaster/horror tones that are quite prevalent in Don’t Look Up, the film is ultimately a dark comedy. Although Don't Look Up may have more satirical and science fiction elements to it, it’s still very much so planted in reality.
Don't Look Up has been described as being an “inspiring metaphor for climate change.” The film's plot is also rumored to have been loosely based on true events. Therefore, history enthusiast Hill got to have somewhat of the best of both worlds, with one foot in the fantasy realms and another in the perceived truth.
Don’t Look Up is now available for streaming on Netflix and the Star Wars saga is available on Disney Plus.
Source: W Magazine