- - “Titanic” Producer Reveals Why Matthew McConaughey Didn't Get Role in the Iconic Film

Virginia ChamleeAugust 5, 2025 at 4:40 PM

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Matthew McConaughey, Titanic, Leonardo Dicaprio

According to an upcoming book, Matthew McConaughey did not land a role in Titanic due in large part to his Southern drawl

McConaughey's accent did not resonate with the film's director, James Cameron, writes Jon Landau in his memoir, which is set to be published posthumously

While Cameron asked the actor to try his audition "a different way," McConaughey allegedly did not

Matthew McConaughey allegedly lost out on the role of Jack Dawson in Titanic because he wouldn't let go of his Southern accent, according to a memoir written by the film's producer and set to be published posthumously.

According to the memoir by producer Jon Landau — a teaser of which was obtained by Matthew Belloni's What I'm Hearing newsletter — actress Kate Winslet (who was cast for the role of Rose) "was taken with Matthew, his presence and charm."

But McConaughey's accent did not resonate with the film's director, James Cameron, who told the actor, "That's great, now let's try it a different way," according to Landau's book.

But McConaughey felt otherwise, telling Cameron, "No. That was pretty good. Thanks," writes the producer.

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Matthew McConaughey

"Let's just say, that was it for McConaughey," Landau wrote.

The part of Jack ultimately went to Leonardo DiCaprio and proved to be a star-making role, though 55-year-old McConaughey's career certainly didn't suffer.

The Oscar winner has spoken about his audition for the iconic role in the past, saying on Rob Lowe's podcast Literally! with Rob Lowe in 2021: "So I went and read with Kate Winslet, and it was not one of the auditions — they filmed it so it was like into screen test time."

"After we left, you know, it was one of those ones where they, like, followed me, and when we got outside, they were like, 'That went great.' I mean, kind of, like, hugs. I really thought it was going to happen. It did not," he added.

McConaughey also confirmed at the time that he was never offered the role, despite rumors that circulated afterwards.

"I asked [director James] Cameron about this, because the gossip over the years that I heard and would see written about me was that I had the role in Titanic and turned it down," McConaughey recalled. "Not factual. I did not get offered that role."

"For a while, I was saying, 'I gotta find that agent. They're in trouble,' " the actor joked. "I did not ever get the offer."

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