Matt Damon Regrets Turning Down ‘Avatar’ Role
Matt Damon is reflecting on a missed role in the highest-grossing film franchise of all time. The actor revealed to ET in a joint interview with Zoe Saldana this week…
Matt Damon seen on stage at the “Kiss The Future” press conference during the 73rd Berlinale International Film Festival Berlin at Grand Hyatt Hotel on February 19, 2023 in Berlin, Germany.
Andreas Rentz/Getty ImagesMatt Damon is reflecting on a missed role in the highest-grossing film franchise of all time. The actor revealed to ET in a joint interview with Zoe Saldana this week that he had the chance to team up with her a long time ago.
The 52-year-old Massachusetts native was offered the lead role in James Cameron's 2009 film Avatar, where he would have starred alongside Saldana and would have earned him around a whopping $250 million. The role instead went to Sam Worthington, who played Jake Sully, while Saldana portrayed Neytiri.
The big-budget CGI movie follows former Marine Jake Sully, who is recruited for a mission on Pandora, a distant moon where a corporate consortium is mining a rare mineral that is key to solving Earth’s energy crisis. To exist on Pandora, Jake must be reborn as an avatar, a remotely controlled biological body that can survive in the lethal air. After Neytiri, a female member of the Na’vi, the indigenous clan he was sent to infiltrate, saves Jake’s life, he finds himself drawn to the Na’vi’s ways. Soon, Jake becomes embroiled in a clash of civilizations and faces the ultimate test in a monumental battle that will decide the fate of an entire world.
"It’s the dumbest thing an actor ever did in the history of acting," Damon told the publication Monday (May 22) of turning down the role. Saldana assured the award-winning actor, "I don’t think your career suffered because of it, trust me." Though Damon has been ranked by Forbes as one of the "most bankable stars," earning nearly $4 billion, the Oppenheimer actor still feels the sting of an opportunity lost.
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Damon quipped, "Do you know what kind of movie that would’ve been if I would have been in it?" After praising Saldana for being in several films that have made over $2 billion, including Avatar, the 44-year-old actress joked, "I didn't plan it, trust me. I've just always felt blessed that I was picked, that I worked really hard and auditioned. I'm not Matt Damon. I don't get to turn down Avatars." Damon noted, "I've probably done, like, 50 movies. I've never been in a movie that made $1 billion."
The Sexiest Men Alive From The Last 20 Years
Take a stroll through the last 20 years of People's Sexiest Men Alive. This year, the award went to Captain America actor Chris Evans, one year after his Marvel co-star Paul Rudd won the title.
Evans, 41, said about the sexy honor: "I think we can all agree that it’s damn near impossible to follow in Paul Rudd’s footsteps in any capacity, but I’ll do my best.” Over the last 20 years, male celebrities and musicians have been selected for the title. Some years, they hit the mark with their choices, while other years, it may seem they chose who just so happened to be the most popular.
Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, and People magazine has their own taste. See the Sexiest Men Alive from the last 20 years below:
2002
Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images403436 04: Actor Ben Affleck attends the world film premiere of "Changing Lanes" April 7, 2002 in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
2003
Franco Origlia/Getty ImagesVENICE, ITALY - AUGUST 28: Actor Johnny Depp arrives at the premiere of his film, "Once Upon a Time in Mexico" at the 60th Venice Film Festival August 28, 2003 in Venice, Italy. The annual Venice Film Festival is one of the oldest and most prestigious cinema events in Europe. The festival is scheduled to be held in Italy for ten days. Films are shown at venues all over the Lido. The festival traditionally sponsors non-Hollywood films and the top award is known as the Golden Lion. (Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images)
2004
Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesLOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 22: Actor Jude Law arrives to the premiere of Columbia Pictures' "Closer" on November 22, 2004 at the Mann Village, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
2005
Carlos Alvarez/Getty ImagesMADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 13: Actor Matthew McConaughey arrives for the Spanish premiere of his new film "Sahara" at the Palacio de la Musica Cinema on April 13, 2005 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images)
2006
Scott Wintrow/Getty ImagesNEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 14: Actor George Clooney answers questions during a news conference after addressing the United Nations Security Council on Dafur at the UN September 14, 2006 in New York City. (Photo by Scott Wintrow/Getty Images)
2007
Ethan Miller/Getty ImagesLAS VEGAS - JULY 5: Actor Matt Damon arrives at the Ante Up for Africa celebrity poker tournament during the World Series of Poker at the Rio Hotel & Casino July 5, 2007 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Proceeds from the event will benefit survivors of the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, Sudan. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
2008
Sean Gallup/Getty ImagesBERLIN - DECEMBER 12: Actor Hugh Jackman attends the German photocall for "Australia" on December 12, 2008 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
2009
Bryan Bedder/Getty ImagesNEW YORK - NOVEMBER 17: Actor Johnny Depp attends 'The Museum of Modern Art Film Benefit: A Tribute To Tim Burton' at The Museum of Modern Art on November 17, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)
2010
Joe Scarnici/Getty ImagesTORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 14: Actor Ryan Reynolds attends an Exclusive Reception hosted by BlackBerry for "Buried" at TIFF at Thomson Hotel on September 14, 2010 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images)
2011
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty ImagesLOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 19: Actor Bradley Cooper arrives at the premiere of Warner Bros. "The Hangover Part II" held at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on May 19, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
2012
Jason Merritt/Getty ImagesLOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 24: Actor Channing Tatum arrives at the closing night gala premiere of 'Magic Mike' at the 2012 Los Angeles Film Festiva held at Regal Cinemas L.A. Live on June 24, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
2013
Jason Merritt/Getty ImagesTORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 07: Actor Adam Levine arrives at the "Can A Song Save Your Life?" premiere during the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival at Princess of Wales Theatre on September 7, 2013 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
2014
Scott Barbour/Getty ImagesMELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 01: Actor Chris Hemsworth at the Johnnie Walker Marquee on Derby Day at Flemington Racecourse on November 1, 2014 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
2015
Anthony Harvey/Getty ImagesLONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 23: David Beckham attends the British Fashion Awards 2015 at London Coliseum on November 23, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)
2016
Aaron Davidson/Getty Images for HBOMIAMI BEACH, FL - JULY 14: Dwayne Johnson attends the HBO "Ballers" Season 2 Red Carpet Premiere and Reception on July 14, 2016 at New World Symphony in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Aaron Davidson/Getty Images for HBO)
2017
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for NBCUNIVERSAL CITY, CA - NOVEMBER 20: Blake Shelton poses for a photo during NBC's "The Voice" Season 13 on November 20, 2017 in Universal City, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for NBC)
2018
Jeff Spicer/Getty ImagesLONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 18: Idris Elba attends the Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2018 at the Theatre Royal on November 18, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)
2019
Rodin Eckenroth/Getty ImagesHOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 11: John Legend attends The Hollywood Reporter's Annual Women in Entertainment Breakfast Gala at Milk Studios on December 11, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images )
2020
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for NYFW: The ShowsNEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 11: Michael B. Jordan attends the Coach 1941 fashion show during February 2020 - New York Fashion Week on February 11, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for NYFW: The Shows)
2021
Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Sony PicturesNEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 15: Actor Paul Rudd attends the GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE World Premiere on November 15, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Sony Pictures)
2022
Gareth Cattermole/Getty ImagesLONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 19: Chris Evans attends "The Gray Man" Special Screening at BFI Southbank on July 19, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
