Leonardo DiCaprio says he’ll never direct a film

Leonardo DiCaprio has made it clear that he has no plans to step into directing, telling audiences at the Time magazine A Year in TIME event in New York City that he will never direct a feature film because he feels he could not match the filmmaking genius of Martin Scorsese. The comments from the Oscar‑winning actor, whose career spans three decades and includes six collaborations with Scorsese, have sparked conversations among fans and industry watchers about the nature of artistic ambition and the respect he holds for one of the most revered directors in cinema history.

DiCaprio, who was honoured at the event as Time’s 2025 Entertainer of the Year, shared that when people ask if he ever wants to direct, his response is unequivocal. “I’m like, ‘I would never want to direct. I could never do anything close to what Martin Scorsese does. Why would I do that?’” he said, explaining that his admiration for Scorsese’s craft makes him wary of trying to fill that role himself.

The actor has worked with Scorsese on landmark projects such as Gangs of New York, The Aviator, The Departed, Shutter Island, The Wolf of Wall Street and Killers of the Flower Moon, and the duo are now preparing their seventh collaboration, What Happens at Night, which is slated to begin production in early 2026 with DiCaprio starring alongside Jennifer Lawrence.

Despite glowing praise for his performances over the years, DiCaprio said his only regret about working with Scorsese was not spending more time observing Scorsese at work behind the camera. “I’ve been so focused on what I’ve been doing as an actor. you make these decisions, you play these characters, you try to get into the depth of their soul,” he said, adding that he would have loved to be more of a bystander to Scorsese’s process.

Fans have taken to social media to react to the remarks, with many expressing respect for DiCaprio’s humility and his decision to remain dedicated to acting rather than directing. Industry observers say DiCaprio’s stance reflects both his deep respect for the craft of directing and his commitment to pursuing his greatest strengths in front of the camera, where he continues to deliver compelling performances that keep audiences and critics engaged with each new role.