Leo Drops 'Bombshell' on Hollywood

By Todd Peterson

Wednesday November 27, 2002 12:00 PM EST

Leonardo DiCaprio is set to blow up.

After a couple years away from the limelight, DiCaprio, 28, will be everywhere for the holidays, as he readies himself for the Dec. 20 premiere of Martin Scorsese's "Gangs of New York," and the Christmas Day release of the Steven Spielberg romp, "Catch Me if You Can."

Now, DiCaprio has signed on to star in "Bombshell," directed by Swedish filmmaker Lasse Hallstrom. Based on the book of the same name, the A-bomb thriller reunites the young star and director, who previously worked together on 1993's "What's Eating Gilbert Grape," one of DiCaprio's earliest films. Hallstrom's credits include "The Shipping News" and "The Cider House Rules," for which he received an Oscar nomination for Best Director.

"Bombshell" isn't DiCaprio's only war-related film on the horizon. He also recently signed on to star in "The Good Shepherd," a film about the Cold War that Robert De Niro may direct next fall. In addition, the Leo is set to jump into another Scorsese project, "The Aviator," a biopic about the life of eccentric billionaire-developer Howard Hughes, Variety reports.

If that's not enough history, the former "Titanic" star also is reportedly committed to play the role of Alexander the Great in director Baz Luhrmann's upcoming film planned for 2004.