Matt Damon reveals he turned down ‘Avatar’

Washington: American actor Matt Damon recently revealed that filmmaker James Cameron offered him the lead role in the 2009 hit film ‘Avatar’, and his life could have been very different if he had said yes to the offer.
The 48-year-old actor, who has been pretty successful even without the role, shared that the acclaimed filmmaker offered him 10 per cent of the film’s profits, reported People.
In a new interview with British GQ, as cited by People, the ‘Jason Bourne’ star revealed that he wasn’t just offered the lead role, but was also extended ten per cent of the film’s profits if he accepted the part.
“Jim Cameron offered me Avatar,” Damon told the magazine.
“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’,” he added.
The epic science drama that takes viewers to the alien world of Pandora, minted USD 2.79 billion at the box office. This means that Damon could have walked away with over USD 250 million had he starred in the sci-fi movie.