USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Actor Leonardo DiCaprio in front of Hocus Pocus decorations
1993’s Hocus Pocus is on the ‘Mt. Rushmore of Halloween Movies for Kids.’ This is an undisputed fact. But Hocus Pocus was almost a very, very different film according to director Kenny Ortega.
In an interview, the Hocus Pocus director revealed how close the coveted role of Max, played by Omri Katz, was from being handed to Leonardo DiCaprio. To be clear, the role was probably Leo’s if he wanted it but the timing was off and Leo was already committed.
How Close Was Leonardo DiCaprio To Starring In ‘Hocus Pocus’?
At the time of casting for Hocus Pocus, Leonardo DiCaprio was already committed to filming What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, one of the movies that served as a launchpad for Leo’s illustrious A-List career. Director Kenny Ortega explained to EW how Leo almost ended up in the Halloween classic alongside Bette Middler and Sarah Jessica Parker:
“[My casting team] called me up and said, ‘We’re sending someone in, but you can’t have him,'” Ortega remembers. “They said, ‘We want you to know who he is, we want you to meet him, he’s agreed to come in to meet you, but he can’t do the role. He’s being offered a movie with [Robert] De Niro and What’s Eating Gilbert Grape.'”
Director Kenny Ortega continued, saying “(Leo) came in, and he was just amazing — so extraordinary and unique — he came and he was stressed. He said, ‘I feel bad that I’m here because I can’t do this, because I’m really focused on these other things,’ and I said, ‘Understandably,'” Ortega explains. “We shared a sandwich together. He was super cool. When he walked out, I called my casting agents and I said, ‘You’re murdering me, here.'”
The role of Max had proved a difficult one to cast but Omri Katz was a perfect fit for the role. His acting career, however, would never really pan out after Hocus Pocus. Katz appeared in 6 episodes of The John Larroquette Show and a few other TV/film credits but nothing close to the cultural staying power of Hocus Pocus. EW previously stated that he had become an “ambassador of the cannabis culture.”
Though Leo missed out on the chance to star in Hocus Pocus, he has done alright for himself. He won the 2016 Academy Award for ‘Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role’ for his role in The Revenant. DiCaprio was nominated in 2020 and 2026 for the same award for his roles in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood and One Battle After Another. Coming up, Leo has roles in Heat 2, an Evel Kneivel project, a Jim Jones project, and a whole lot more.
2023’s Killers of the Flower Moon which came out the week of the interview about Leonardo DiCaprio’s missed opportunity to star in Hocus Pocus was nominated for 10 Oscars and 427 total award nominations. Not too shabby.