While it is always good to find out that some parts of a movie storyline are true, Leonardo DiCaprio’s character in “titanic” was based on a real person, whose relatives are not impressed at James Cameron ripping off his love story. The real “Jack Dawson” was a relative of Stephen Cummings of Florida: he is now suing film director for $300m. Reportedly, Cummings is also demanding a hefty one percent of the royalties accrued by the blockbuster film.

‘Titanic’: romance on board the sinking ship

Who can forget DiCaprio as Jack Dawson and his love interest, Rose DeWitt Bukater (played by Kate Winslet) as they posed on the brow of the “Titanic” with their whirlwind romance well underway.

Well, apparently Cummings really would like to forget that scene. The romantic drama film was released in 1997 and told a mostly fictional tale of the 1912 sinking of the RMS Titanic on its maiden voyage. 1,517 people died in the tragedy, but some did survive, including the wife of Cummings' relative. The love story of DeWitt Bukater and Dawson was an integral and moving part of the film.

While Cummings wasn’t actually on the Titanic himself, he claims he is the original source of the story used in the film. Cummings works in the yacht industry in Brevard County, Florida and according to his lawsuit, Cameron had overheard the story of the real-life events while visiting Brevard County back in 1988 and 1989 and talking to some of his friends.

‘Rose’ and ‘Jack’ based on a Brevard County couple who were on the ‘Titanic’

According to the yacht master, “Rose” and “Jack” of “Titanic” fame were in real life two of his relatives, a husband and wife team who were on board during the fatal sailing of the iconic ship. As reported by Cosmopolitan, the pair suffered a similar fate to that depicted in the film, with the husband drowning during the sinking of the ship and the wife surviving the tragedy.

Lawsuit pushing for a 'Titanic' payout

If Cummings wins his lawsuit, he’ll certainly be set up for life with the $300m he is demanding from Cameron, plus the percentage of the film’s royalties.

The movie “Titanic” won an amazing 11 Oscars back in 1998 and has reportedly grossed more than $2.187bn to date. While “Titanic” was considered to be the highest-grossing movie ever, it was replaced by another Cameron blockbuster, “Avatar,” in 2009.

As noted in a report by the International Business Times, there were few dry eyes at the 20th anniversary of the Billboard Music Awards, when Celine Dion performed the “Titanic" soundtrack ballad, “My Heart Will Go On.” Her rendition of the song ended up almost breaking the Internet. Readers can enjoy her singing the ballad below.
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