James Cameron Denies Matt Damon Avatar Claim
James Cameron, one of the most influential and celebrated directors in modern Hollywood, is best known for blockbuster films such as Titanic and Avatar. Avatar, released in 2009, went on to become one of the highest-grossing movies of all time, earning more than $2 billion at the global box office.
Over the years, actor Matt Damon has claimed that Cameron once offered him the lead role of Jake Sully in Avatar, along with 10 percent of the film’s box office gross. According to Damon, he turned down the role due to scheduling conflicts, a decision he later described as costing him billions of dollars.
However, James Cameron has firmly disputed this claim.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Cameron stated that Matt Damon was never officially offered the role of Jake Sully. He also said he does not recall even sending Damon the Avatar script.
“I can’t remember if I sent [Damon] the script or not. I don’t think I did,” Cameron said. “Then we wound up on a call and he said, ‘I love to explore doing a movie with you. I have a lot of respect for you as a filmmaker.’”
Cameron emphasized that there was never any formal discussion about the character or a deal. “There was never a deal. We never talked about the character. We never got to that level. It was simply an availability issue,” he added.
The role of Jake Sully ultimately went to Sam Worthington, who starred alongside Zoe Saldaña in the original Avatar. The film’s long-awaited sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water, was released in 2022, more than a decade after the first installment.
Despite ongoing debate about the casting controversy, Avatar remains a landmark achievement in cinema history and a defining project in James Cameron’s career.
