As a long-time hip-hop enthusiast, Leonardo DiCaprio’s passion for the culture almost led him to back a Wu-Tang Clan biopic. According to Raekwon’s book, From Staircase to Stage, he details a meeting with DiCaprio facilitated by their mutual friend Q-Tip. They met at a mafioso-style pizza place in Brooklyn, where they had an enjoyable time sharing stories and discussing the potential of a Wu-Tang Clan movie. Raekwon was enthusiastic about the project and even envisioned DiCaprio taking a role in the film.
Intrigued by the idea, DiCaprio discussed potential directors and offered to support the project through his production company. Despite Raekwon’s excitement for a full-length motion picture, the idea didn’t resonate with RZA, who also met with DiCaprio. Raekwon described RZA as “merely going through the motions” during their meeting because he envisioned doing a TV series instead.
This difference in vision led to the eventual creation of Hulu’s Wu-Tang: An American Saga in 2019, featuring actors like Ashton Sanders, Shamiek Moore, Dave East, and Joey Bada$$. The fictionalized series, loosely based on the formation of the legendary group, ran for three seasons and effectively brought the Wu-Tang Clan’s story to life, aligning with RZA’s creative vision.
