Every successful actor has to make big decisions about their career.
Some roles they are happy they took in retrospect and some they wish they said no to, but Matt Damon has just admitted he passed up on an opportunity that would have in all likelihood landed him the single biggest acting payday in cinematic history.
Matt tells British GQ, "James Cameron offered me (the lead role) 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' (the film's profit).”
Matt passed and Sam Worthington landed the job.
Avatar went on to rake in a mind-blowing $2.78 billion, a record at the time, which means Matt theoretically passed on a $278 million payday.
Matt’s biggest regret however isn’t the cash, he says it was the opportunity to work with James who rarely makes films.
Though when Matt told his pal John Krasinski about it, John jokingly assured him his life wouldn’t be that different, except they would be having the conversation in space.
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