Hayden Christensen eventually played the role of Jedi turned Darth Vader, Anakin Skywalker

Actor Leonardo DiCaprio turned down the part of Anakin Skywalker in the Star Wars prequels.

The 41-year-old star revealed he was set to take the role of the young Jedi knight in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith but it eventually went to Hayden Christensen because he wasn’t “ready to take the dive”.

Asked whether he auditioned for the role, he said: “I did have a meeting with George Lucas about that, yes. I just didn’t feel ready to take that dive. At that point.”

The Revenant star also opened up about the possibility of playing a superhero in the future.

He added: “They’re getting better and better as far as complex characters in these movies. I haven’t yet. But no, I don’t rule out anything.”

Meanwhile, the actor revealed he finds it “emotional” watching movies he starred in during his formative years, because it reminds him of how lucky he was to get a break in Hollywood.

He told Shortlist: It’s sometimes emotional watching [‘What’s Eating Gilbert Grape’ and ‘This Boy’s Life’] because I feel like I’m that kid again. Really just incredibly happy to have gotten a shot.

“So I remember a lot of those moments on set like they were yesterday, especially working with people like De Niro and [Johnny] Depp at that age.

“It was like winning the lottery.”