Hindsight can sometimes cause us to emit an audible “oof.” In Matt Damon’s case, replace that “oof” with the sound of millions of dollars going down the drain. Yes, Mr. Damon could have been sitting on a massive payday if he’d just taken an ‘Avatar’ deal from James Cameron.
Collider reported that Damon admitted to the offered deal during an interview with GQ UK:
“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 going to 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 ten per cent of…” So, on the subject of money…”
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Cameron is one of those guys who makes very few movies but typically produces pure gold. Passing on this chance to work with a real legend is an odd choice by the A-List actor. Damon did realize the missed opportunity but makes light of the situation:
“I realised in having to say no that I was probably passing on the chance to ever work with him. So that sucked and that’s still brutal. But my kids are all eating. I’m doing OK.”
To be honest, it’s doubtful that Matt Damon is struggling. Passing up on the deal is probably a better overall story to tell people than getting to be a big blue CGI catperson, though.
What would you all have done with that fat paycheck? Would strapping on in a mo-cap suit for months on end be worth it?
