Leonardo DiCaprio has said he would have liked to play Travis Bickle, the disturbed New York taxi driver portrayed by Robert De Niro in Martin Scorsese’s 1976 film Taxi Driver. He described the character as “insane” but praised the depth of De Niro’s performance, suggesting that the role’s psychological intensity makes it especially compelling for an actor.

Taxi Driver follows Bickle’s growing isolation and violent radicalisation as he drives through a decaying New York City. DiCaprio’s comments underline his admiration for De Niro and Scorsese, with whom he has worked repeatedly, and reflect his interest in complex, morally troubled characters rather than conventional leading-man roles.