Matt Damon, a well-known actor, still regrets turning down the lead role in James Cameron’s Avatar franchise.
Despite being offered the part of Jake Sully, Damon’s commitment to the Bourne franchise prevented him from accepting it.
Avatar and its sequel sit on the list of the highest-grossing films ever made, with each film earning over $2 billion.
This missed opportunity still haunts Damon fourteen years later.
Damon expressed his regret during an interview with Entertainment Tonight while promoting the Let’s Do Dinner campaign.
Zoe Saldana, who co-starred with Damon in We Bought a Zoo, was also present.
Damon stated that turning down Avatar was “the dumbest thing an actor ever did in the history of acting.”
Saldana attempted to alleviate his regret by saying that she didn’t believe his career suffered as a result.
Damon continued to express his remorse, stating that he had never been in a movie that made $1 billion despite appearing in around fifty movies.
Cameron, the director of Avatar, laughed when asked about Damon’s missed opportunity during an interview with BBC Radio and advised Damon to “get over it.”
Cameron added that Damon could not have accepted the role due to prior commitments to the Bourne franchise.
While Damon may be upset about missing out on Avatar, the role changed Sam Worthington’s life.
Worthington became a worldwide sensation after playing Jake Sully, and the gig helped him get back on his feet after living in his car.
Cameron suggested that Damon make a cameo in future Avatar sequels to restore balance to the world.
Despite having a successful career, Damon is no stranger to regret.
Actors can have regrets for a variety of reasons, such as turning down a project or participating in one that didn’t meet their expectations.
Unfortunately for Damon, missing out on Avatar is one regret that still haunts him today.
