Just a couple of months ago Govinda left everyone shell shocked when he revealed that James Cameron had offered him the titular role in his blockbuster and iconic film Avatar. He even went on to add that he had suggested the film’s name to the acclaimed director. Now, another actor has come forward claiming that he was offered the main lead. Matt Damon revealed at a recent interview that he was offered the lead role but had to turn it down due to his other projects. He even claimed that Cameron had offered him a 10% profit on the film.
In a recent interview with an international magazine he said, “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% of the film’s profits’.” Damon did not take up the offer as he was busy with Jason Bourne films but had he taken up Cameron’s offer he would have pocketed at least $250 million.
Damon further said how John Krasinski reacted to this when the former told him about rejecting Avatar. Damon said, “I told John Krasinski this story when we were writing 'Promised Land', and he goes, ‘what?!' And he stands up and he starts pacing in the kitchen. He goes, ‘OK. OK. OK. OK. OK'! He goes, ‘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'. So, yeah. I've left more money on the table than any actor actually. That sucked and that's still brutal. But my kids are all eating. I'm doing OK.”
Australian actor Sam Worthington finally took on the role in Avatar and as they say, the rest is history because the film went on to become Hollywood’s highest-grossing film ever.
(Source: British GQ)
