Why Matthew McConaughey missed out on the lead role in 'Titanic'

Why Matthew McConaughey missed out on the lead role in 'Titanic'

Matthew McConaugheywas almost the king of the world. An upcoming book by late "Titanic" producer Jon Landau has reportedly revealed why the "True Detective" star, 55, lost the lead role inJames Cameron's1997 blockbuster toLeonardo DiCaprio. In his newsletter "What I'm Hearing,"Puck's Matthew Belloni publishedan excerpt from Landau's book "The Bigger Picture," which reveals details about McConaughey's screen test for the role of Jack in "Titanic." "We brought him in to do a scene with Kate (Winslet)," the book says, according to Puck. "You want to check for chemistry, not just how people look on film but how they interact." "Kate was taken with Matthew, his presence and charm. Matthew did the scene with the drawl. 'That's great,' said Jim (Cameron). 'Now let's try it a different way.' Matthew said, 'No. That was pretty good. Thanks.' Let's just say, that was it for McConaughey." USA TODAY has reached out to Disney, owner of the book's imprint, Hyperion Avenue. McConaughey has previously discussed being up for the role of Jack in "Titanic" in numerous interviews. During a 2019appearance on "Watch What Happens Live," he claimed his audition "went really well," so much so that he thought he landed the part. "(It went) well enough where when I left, I was being glad-handed and slapped on the back like, 'This is what we're looking for. You got it,'" he said. "Well enough where you get outside, you call your agent, and you go, 'Oh, I nailed it. This is happening.'" McConaughey has also denied a rumor that he did get the role, but turned it down. Speaking onRob Lowe's "Literally!" podcast, he clarified, "I did not get offered that role. For a while there, I was thinking, 'I've got to find that agent. They're in trouble!' Well, I didn't ever get the offer." Though DiCaprio wound up playing Jack, he almost lost out on the part, too. In a 2022video interview with GQ, Cameron revealed DiCaprio nearly wasn't cast because he didn't want to do a screen test with Winslet. "He said, 'Oh, I don't read,'" Cameron recalled. "I shook his hand and I said, 'Well, thanks for coming by.' He said, 'Wait, wait, wait, you mean if I don't read, I don't get the part, just like that?' And I said, 'Oh, yeah, come on. ... You're going to read or you're not going to get the part." According to Cameron, DiCaprio reluctantly agreed to do the reading with Winslet but had a "negative" attitude about it – "right up until I said action, and then he turned into Jack." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Matthew McConaughey as Jack in 'Titanic'? Why he lost the role

byAlpha World

in

August 07, 2025

Why Matthew McConaughey missed out on the lead role in 'Titanic'

Why Matthew McConaughey missed out on the lead role in 'Titanic' Matthew McConaugheywas almost the king of the world. An upcoming bo...

Read More

Justin Baldoni's Lawyers Respond to Blake Lively Accusing Them of Leaking Details About Her Deposition

Justin Baldoni's Lawyers Respond to Blake Lively Accusing Them of Leaking Details About Her Deposition

John Nacion/Variety via Getty; Araya Doheny/Variety via Getty Justin Baldoni's lawyers responded to Blake Lively's allegation that they were behind details of her deposition being "leaked" to media "She does not cite any evidence. This is not surprising as there is none," his lawyers wrote in a filing Lively was questioned by Baldoni's lawyers during her July 31 deposition Justin Baldoni'slegal team is pushing back onBlake Lively'sclaim that theyleaked details from her deposition to the press. In an Aug. 6 court filing responding to Lively's previousmotion to strike, Baldoni's attorneys addressed the accusation, writing that the actress "alleges that 'it also appears that the Wayfarer Defendants immediately leaked details from the deposition to the tabloid media.' She does not cite any evidence. This is not surprising as there is none." Baldoni's attorneys argued that potential leaks could have come from Lively's own side, not theirs, after her July 31 deposition. They also questioned why Lively, 37, assumed their team was responsible, pointing out there were several other possible sources. "Ms. Lively also fails to explain why any such 'leak' could not have originated from Ms. Lively, her husband [Ryan Reynolds], her multiple attorneys, legal or administrative staff from the law firm representing her (whose office she demanded host the deposition), or the catering staff employed thereby who served lunch," they wrote in the filing. Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Baldoni's lawyers went on to reject the idea that the presence of attendees at the deposition was in any way sensitive or notable: "Putting aside the identity of the culprit, the identities of those in attendance for her deposition are not newsworthy because all parties are entitled to attend all depositions." In an Aug. 7 statement to PEOPLE, a spokesperson for Lively says, "We are very pleased with the outcome of her deposition and now look forward to deposing Justin Baldoni and each of the co-defendants in short order." "Deposition testimony is confidential for good reason — it's evidence in a legal proceeding and is subject to objections and evidentiary rules," adds the spokesperson. "Juries aren't just handed deposition transcripts to read at home, and instead they listen to testimony that is presented at trial under a judge's supervision." https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cufid The dispute is part of an ongoing legal battle stemming from the filmIt Ends With Us, in which Lively co-starred with Baldoni, 41, who also served as the director. In her Aug. 4 motion, Lively pointed to tabloid stories fromTMZ and theDaily Mailthat included unnamed sources, arguing the coverage supported her claim that Baldoni's team was trying to "create a media circus around Ms. Lively's deposition" and promote the idea that it was a dramatic "face-to-face showdown" between the two stars. In addition to the leak allegation, Lively's attorneys also asked the court to strike a292-page rough draft of her deposition transcriptfrom the sealed court record. They claimed Baldoni's team included the full document, even though only two pages were cited, "with no plausible legal reason to do so." Her legal team alleged the goal was to push the transcript "into the public domain as fodder for [their] media campaign." Monica Schipper/Getty; Dia Dipasupil/Getty Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Baldoni's attorneys countered that the transcript had been properly filed under seal, pointed out it contained Lively's "own words," and questioned why she would want to conceal her own testimony "in an action in which she is the plaintiff." A trial is scheduled for March 2026, where both Lively and Baldoni are expected to testify. Read the original article onPeople

byAlpha World

in

August 07, 2025

Justin Baldoni's Lawyers Respond to Blake Lively Accusing Them of Leaking Details About Her Deposition

Justin Baldoni's Lawyers Respond to Blake Lively Accusing Them of Leaking Details About Her Deposition John Nacion/Variety via Getty; Ar...

Read More

Final hurricane season forecast warns storms are coming soon

Final hurricane season forecast warns storms are coming soon

TheAtlantic hurricane season 2025is entering its peak months and weather conditions continue to favor an above-normal season, federal forecasters said on Aug. 7 in their final planned Atlantic hurricane season outlook for 2025. NOAA said forecasters expect a range of 13 to 18 total named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher). Of those, five to nine are forecast to become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including two to five major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; with winds of 111 mph or higher). This includes the four tropical storms (Andrea, Barry, Chantal and Dexter) that have already formed. A typical year averages about 14 tropical storms, seven of which spin into hurricanes, based on weather records that date from 1991 to 2020. The numbers released in the Aug. 7 forecast are a slight decrease from the original forecast in May, though not enough to change the overall message of the forecast. Atlantic basin tropical storm activity is expected to be above normal due to a combination of factors, including warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the tropical Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Seas, and an active West African monsoon. (The monsoon's thunderstorm activity over West Africa promotes the formation of African easterly waves, which can turn into tropical storms and hurricanes.) ENSO-neutral conditions are also expected to continue, meaning there is neither an El Niño nor La Niña to influence this season's storm activity. ("ENSO" is short for "El Niño - Southern Oscillation," the overall term for the El Niño / La Niña climate cycle that affect weather worldwide. "ENSO-Neutral" means neither El Niño nor La Niña conditions are present.) "Many of the factors we identified ahead of the season are still at play, and conditions are largely tracking along with our May predictions," said Matt Rosencrans, lead hurricane season forecaster with NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Prediction, part of the National Weather Service. Other top forecasters are also predicting an active season.Colorado State University's hurricane forecasting team, led by Phil Klotzbach, predicted 16 total named storms, of which 8 will be hurricanes, in its most recent forecast released Aug. 6. AccuWeather's forecast, which came out in March, calls for 13 to 18 named storms, of which 7 to 10 will be hurricanes. The record for most actual named storms in a season is 30, set in 2020. The best time to prepare for a hurricane is before a storm threatens, NOAA said. "As we enter the second half of the season, this updated hurricane outlook serves as a call to action to prepare now, in advance, rather than delay until a warning is issued," said acting NOAA Administrator Laura Grimm, in a statement. It is vital to understand your home's vulnerability to storm surge, flooding, and wind. Here isyour checklistof things to do before a storm threatens your area. Here are some USA TODAY links to bookmark onhow to prepare your home for a hurricaneandhow to prepare a go-bag in case you need to evacuate. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:NOAA's final hurricane season forecast says hurricanes are coming soon

byAlpha World

in

August 07, 2025

Final hurricane season forecast warns storms are coming soon

Final hurricane season forecast warns storms are coming soon TheAtlantic hurricane season 2025is entering its peak months and weather condit...

Read More

Over 32,000 Pounds of Pecans Have Been Recalled in 5 States Due to Potential Salmonella Exposure

Over 32,000 Pounds of Pecans Have Been Recalled in 5 States Due to Potential Salmonella Exposure

Getty Over 32,000 pounds of Navarro pecans were recalled due to possible Salmonella contamination The Class 1 recall affects products shipped to five U.S. states and three international countries Consumers are urged not to eat the pecans and to discard any affected products immediately Consumers in a handful of states are being encouraged to double-check the labels of one pantry staple. On Friday, Aug. 1, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) posted a recall with Navarro Pecan Holdings, LLC. The ongoing recall was voluntarily initiated on July 10 by Navarro and has not yet been given a termination notice. According tothe recall noticeprovided by the FDA, Navarro recalled approximately 32,670 pounds of the brand Fancy Medium pecans from a variety of packaging sizes, from small to jumbo. The notice notes that the recall was initiated due to the pecans having potentially been in contact with Salmonella, "a bacterial infection that causes diarrhea, fever and stomach pains," as described by theCleveland Clinic. The recall was also categorized as a Class 1, the highest level for food and drug recalls, meaning that the agency has determined that it risk is "reasonably probable" enough to suspect contact would cause "adverse consequences, or death." Distributors in five U.S. states and Italy, the Netherlands and the United Arab Emirates were notified in a variety of ways, but not limited to email, fax, postal mail and telephone. A press release was not provided; however, according to the notice, the U.S states that were included were Arizona, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Minnesota and Texas. Getty Several shipments of Fancy Small Pecan Pieces (item 81014) were recorded with varying lot numbers but all with a pack date of 5/29/2025, code SDC1495, and for 56 units. Additional shipments of this same item include lot numbers 562088 and 562201, also dated 5/29/2025 with the same code and quantity. A separate case of Fancy Small Pecan Pieces (item 81163) was packed on 5/22/2025, code SDC1495, with one unit. Fancy Medium Pecan Pieces appeared multiple times: item 81124, packed on 6/13/2025, code SDC1645, with 90 units split into two shipments; item 81163, packed on 5/22/2025, code CP, with two units and item 81162, packed on 5/16/2025, code UPS, with seven units. Fancy Midget Pecan Pieces (item 81086) were packed on 5/30/2025, code SDC1505, with 56 units. Fancy Jr. Mammoth Pecan Halves had two entries: item 81035, packed on 6/11/2025, code SDC1625, with six units and item 80801, packed on 6/5/2025, code SDC1565, with 56 units. FCY #15 Halves (item 79291) appeared three times, all packed on 5/21/2025, code SDC1405, with units of 56, 56 and 32. Fancy Topper Pecan Halves (item 81165) were packed on 5/30/2025, code SDC1505, with 28 units. Fancy Topper Halves/Medium Pieces Blend had multiple entries: item 81070, packed on 5/28/2025, code SDC1505, of 56 units and item 81072, packed on 6/10/2025, code SDC1615, with three separate lot numbers, each with a quantity of 56 units.Fancy Jumbo Pecan Halves (item 81162) were packed on 5/16/2025, code UPS, quantity 3. Fancy Ex-Large/Jumbo Pecan Halves (item 80991) were packed on 5/19/2025, code SDC1395, with 1500 units. And lastly, Fancy Large Pecan Pieces (item 81160) were packed on 5/15/2025, code CP, with four units. Consumers are encouraged to toss any product that they've already received and not to consume further to prevent those adverse reactions. https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf Read the original article onPeople

byAlpha World

in

August 07, 2025

Over 32,000 Pounds of Pecans Have Been Recalled in 5 States Due to Potential Salmonella Exposure

Over 32,000 Pounds of Pecans Have Been Recalled in 5 States Due to Potential Salmonella Exposure Getty Over 32,000 pounds of Navarro pecans ...

Read More

Elvis Presley’s Most Complicated Relationship Gets Spotlighted in New Book

Elvis Presley's Most Complicated Relationship Gets Spotlighted in New Book

Elvis Presley's Most Complicated Relationship Gets Spotlighted in New Bookoriginally appeared onParade. Elvis Presley's rise to superstardom was anything but a solo act. His talent and drive were matched by a powerful partnership with one of the most influential figures in his inner circle. But behind the spotlight, their relationship would become one of the most controversial alliances in music history. The King of Rock and Roll and his manager,Colonel Tom Parker, were an undeniable force. Together, they conquered the entertainment world with determination, talent, and a mutual respect for each other's strengths. The Colonel and the King: Tom Parker, Elvis Presley, and the Partnership That Rocked the WorldbyPeter Guralnickdelves into their complicated relationship. Each depended on the other for a myriad of professional and personal reasons, but their union faced many challenges. This new book is based on an archive of letters penned by Parker, which Guralnick first discovered in 1989.Commercial Appealspoke to the book's author, delving deeply into what did and didn't work in Presley and Parker's partnership. Parade Daily🎬SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬 "He believed in Elvis," the author said. "He believed that he was the greatest." Guralnick continued, "His faith in Elvis had to do with a future which couldn't be foretold. He and Elvis had a vision of something that had not yet been achieved. Yet, he believed that together they would achieve it." Together, Presley and Parker created a music dynasty, making Presley an undeniable force in rock and roll for over two decades. However, in the years after the singer's death, Parker's role in his career took on a more villainous slant. In the Baz Luhrmann filmElvis, Parker is a particularly polarizing character. He was depicted as a controlling and manipulative force who held significant power over both Presley's career and personal life. The book attempts to debunk that longstanding myth. The author reveals that through Parker's letters, a different picture was painted of his involvement in the singer's downfall. "As Elvis began to have his personal difficulties, and his behavior became more and more publicly erratic, and certainly after he died, there was a need for some kind of blame," Guralnick revealed. "And the easiest thing was to lash out at the manager, who had always promoted the myth of himself as a kind of outlandish Svengali." He continued, "There's no question that he created that myth. And he enjoyed the benefits of that for many, many years. But eventually that same reputation would come to work against him." After Presley's death in August 1977, Parker continued to manage his likeness. But after Vernon Presley died in 1979, his situation changed dramatically. In 1982, the Presley estate took legal action against Parker, accusing him of fraud and mismanagement. An out-of-court settlement came the following year, and Parker officially ended his legal connection to the estate. Colonel Tom Parker died in January, 1997. Elvis Presley's Most Complicated Relationship Gets Spotlighted in New Bookfirst appeared on Parade on Aug 7, 2025 This story was originally reported byParadeon Aug 7, 2025, where it first appeared.

byAlpha World

in

August 07, 2025

Elvis Presley’s Most Complicated Relationship Gets Spotlighted in New Book

Elvis Presley's Most Complicated Relationship Gets Spotlighted in New Book Elvis Presley's Most Complicated Relationship Gets Spotli...

Read More