Matt Damon calls decision to turn down ‘Avatar’ role ‘stupid’

Even more than a decade later Matt Damon still blames himself for turning down a role in James Cameron’s Avatar. The actor spoke to Avatar actress Zoe Saldana and said it was the “stupidest thing an actor has ever done.”

Damon also credited Saldana for her involvement in several films that have grossed over $2 billion at the box office. The actor came closest to grossing $1 billion in a movie when he grossed $673 million with “Interstellar.” Cameron himself said he comforted Damon over the decision, which cost him 10% of the film’s earnings.

Read on to find out more.

Matt Damon says his rejection was the “stupidest thing”.

Matt Damon recently had an interview with entertainment tonight for a Stella Artois ad campaign with Avatar star Zoe Saldana. During their conversation, Damon said his decision to turn down a role in 2009’s “Avatar” was the “stupidest thing an actor has ever done in the history of acting.”

The 52-year-old would have made about $250 million playing Jake Sully, which Sam Worthington ended up playing. Saldana, who played the role of Neytiri, tried to reassure Damon by saying, “I don’t think your career has suffered, trust me.”

However, the ‘Good Will Hunting’ star refused to let the grief over the loss stop. He asked, “Do you know what kind of movie that would have been if I had been in it?” Starring Worthington and Saldana, “Avatar” grossed around $2.9 billion.

“I’ve never been in a movie that made a billion dollars.”

During their conversation, Damon also praised Saldana for being involved in several films that have grossed over $2 billion. These include the original Avatar, its sequel Avatar: The Way of Water, and Avengers films like Infinity War and Endgame.

Saldana said: “I didn’t plan it, believe me – I’ve just always felt blessed to have been chosen, to have worked hard and auditioned. I’m not Matt Damon. I can’t turn down avatars.” In response, Damon said, “I’ve done probably 50 films. I’ve never been in a movie that made a billion dollars.”

The actor’s closest to making $1 billion in a movie was when he grossed $673 million at the box office with “Interstellar.” The Martian grossed around $630 million, while films like Ocean’s Eleven and Saving Private Ryan grossed nearly $500 million.

James Cameron tried to comfort Matt Damon

During an interview in 2022 with BBC radioDirector James Cameron said he previously comforted Damon over the decision, which cost him 10% of the film’s earnings. Cameron said: “He’s beating himself up about it. And I think you know, ‘Matt, you’re something of one of the biggest movie stars in the world; Get over it.'”

Cameron explained that at the time, Damon “had to do another ‘Bourne’ movie” and was forced to “regrettably turn down” the Avatar role. During a 2019 interview with British GQDamon also reflected on the choice, calling it one of his “biggest regrets” as an actor.

He said per Daily Mail, “James Cameron offered me ‘Avatar.'” And when he offered it to me, he said, “Now listen.” I don’t need anyone. I don’t need a name for this, a named actor. If you don’t take this, I’ll find an unknown actor and give it to him, because the film doesn’t need you. But if you take the role, I’ll give you 10 percent.'”

There was a lot of uproar on social media over the July 21 release of “Oppenheimer” and “Barbie.” With both films hitting theaters on the same day, fans are debating which film is likely to top box office during its opening weekend.

Damon spoke to recently Vanity Fair about the Premiere War and said, “This is the first time I’ve heard about it. I didn’t pay attention to that.” The actor went on to say he doesn’t understand the feud because “people get to see two movies in one weekend.” ‘Oppenheimer’ is one of them!”

Damon is a father to four girls, so they’d probably want to watch “Barbie” before “Oppenheimer,” in which her father plays General Leslie Groves. Commenting on the debate, he said: “I have to ask you that. If so, you will see two films this weekend!”