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Matt Damon Turned Down Avatar Lead Role Along With $250 Million Payout


Credit: Universal Pictures


Matt Damon has had some pretty good achievements with the movies he participated in throughout the years. Starting with award-winning film Good Will Hunting and The Martian, down to the box-office movies like The Great Wall and The Bourne Series. But as it turns out, one of the highest-grossing films of all time was almost added to the list.

Damon revealed that he had James Cameron's Avatar within grasp in a recent interview with GQ Magazine. The actor revealed that he actually turned down Cameron's offer to take the lead which was eventually given to Man on a Ledge star Sam Worthington.

Damon said, "Jim Cameron offered me Avatar. And when he offered it to me, he goes, ‘Now, listen. I don't need anybody. I don't need a name for this, a named actor. If you don't take this, I'm gonna find an unknown actor and give it to him, because the movie doesn't really need you."

"But if you take the part, I'll give you 10 percent of," Cameron added, ultimately making Matt miss out on a $250 million dollar payout.

Although it was a pretty big deal, Damon didn't have his regrets. He recalled the time when he was working with John Krasinski on writing Promised Land, Damon told Krasinski about the story. The Office actor was shocked and started pacing in the kitchen. He then told Damon, "If you had done that movie, nothing in your life would be different. Nothing in your life would be different at all. Except that, right now, we would be having this conversation in space."

Damon believes that he "left more money on the table than any actor," but it would be a bigger regret for him to let down Paul Greengrass and his friends on The Bourne Ultimatum. Although, he mentioned that it would suck because he is probably passing a chance to work with Cameron; since the director has only made 6 movies then, which were all a hit. Damon had a realization but he thinks that he is doing okay because, after all, his kids are all eating.

Personally, whether Damon or Worthington got cast for the lead role in Avatar, either of them would have done really well. Damon is doing well and Worthington earned recognition too, so it turned out well for both of them.

Avatar 4 is planned for 2025, and the fifth and final installment of the series is slated for 2027.

Also Read: Matrix 4 Reportedly Casting Young Neo Alongside Keanu Reeves

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