Travolta's 'Aviator' dream

Film

16:30 11 January 2005

John Travolta is finding it hard to read the praise being heaped upon 'The Aviator' - because he would have loved to play the film's lead character himself.

The 'Pulp Fiction' star claims he tried to get a movie based upon the life of late film director Howard Hughes made - with the backing of the late director's wife, Terry Moore - two years ago but was turned down by all the leading studios.

He said: "I pursued it for years and tried to get the project off the ground twice. Terry Moore had a script written for me two years ago and I had my own script written in 1984."

The movie, directed by legendary film-maker Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Hughes, opened to rave reviews and has been nominated for a host of Golden Globe awards.

However, Travolta - who is an avid flyer himself - claims the film only eventually got off the ground because Scorsese got involved.

He added: "Until you get Scorsese attached, you won't get something like that done."

(c) BANG Media International