Title: Actor Matt Damon Turned Down $250 Million Role in “Avatar”
Date: [Today’s Date]
Source: CNN
Matt Damon, the Oscar-winning actor, recently revealed that he turned down a major role in James Cameron’s “Avatar” that could have earned him upwards of $250 million. Damon discussed his decision during an interview on CNN’s “Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace” on Friday.
In 2009, Damon was offered not only the lead role in “Avatar” but also a percentage of the film’s earnings. Reflecting on his decision, Damon joked, “It’s something awful like that,” and expressed that he believes it was the most money an actor has ever turned down.
The actor explained that at the time, he was committed to finishing the “Bourne” series in which he had starred from 2002 to 2016. He didn’t want to leave the franchise unfinished to pursue the opportunity to work on “Avatar.”
As a result, the role went to Sam Worthington, who played the lead character alongside Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Joel David Moore, and Michelle Rodriguez. “Avatar” went on to become the highest grossing movie of all time since its release in 2009, earning nearly $3 billion worldwide.
While Damon may sometimes wonder about his decision, the success of “Avatar” did not hinder his career. He continues to thrive in the film industry and is currently starring in director Christopher Nolan’s latest war-era epic, “Oppenheimer,” which premiered in theaters on Friday.
Although Damon claims his decision resulted in the most money an actor has declined, it is debatable. Sean Connery famously turned down the role of Gandalf in the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, which would have earned him $30 million per movie, plus 15 percent of the box office earnings. This opportunity could have resulted in a staggering $450 million for the iconic “Bond” actor.
In the end, Damon’s choices have allowed him to establish a successful career in Hollywood, proving that sometimes turning down a major role can still lead to prosperous outcomes.