In a recent revelation, Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio shared that he encouraged renowned director Martin Scorsese to explore the captivating world of Hayao Miyazaki’s ‘Spirited Away.’ The revelation came during an interview on Letterboxd, providing an intriguing peek into the exchange of film recommendations between the two industry icons. With a smile, DiCaprio disclosed, “Other than, maybe ‘Spirited Away,’ Miyazaki’s films, and maybe Princess Mononoke.” Scorsese confirmed, “It was ‘Spirited Away’ you told me to watch.”
While DiCaprio’s recommendation reverberated throughout the interview, Scorsese’s opinion on ‘Spirited Away’ remained undisclosed. The conversation seamlessly transitioned into an exploration of other influential films that have shaped their collaborations, spanning from ‘Gangs of New York’ to ‘Killers of the Flower Moon.’
The audience in the comments section expressed excitement over DiCaprio introducing ‘Spirited Away’ to Scorsese. Some lamented the absence of a more in-depth discussion, speculating on potential reasons. Interestingly, a user pointed out a tidbit from Steve Alpert’s memoir, suggesting that Miyazaki had declined Scorsese’s invitation to meet in New York City, possibly explaining the omission.
In addition to his recommendation of ‘Spirited Away,’ Leonardo DiCaprio, known for his fondness for anime, has been associated with live-action adaptations of ‘Akira’ and ‘Ninja Scroll.’ While ‘Akira’ is reportedly in production, details regarding ‘Ninja Scroll’ have remained elusive since 2008.