‘You Didn’t Miss Anything’: James Cameron Responds to Matt Damon’s Avatar Story

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James Cameron recently discussed stories told by Matt Damon about how close Damon was to being cast in Avatar and potentially earning a share of the film’s earnings.

What did James Cameron say about Matt Damon’s viral Avatar story?

Cameron recently discussed a story Matt Damon told about being offered the lead role in the original Avatar. Damon said he was also promised 10% of the film’s profits. Considering Avatar earned nearly $3 billion worldwide, that would have meant a huge payout for Damon – potentially hundreds of millions of dollars.

Cameron confirmed he and Damon had a conversation, but clarified that Damon was never formally offered a role in the film. Cameron doesn’t recall if he even sent Damon the script. They spoke on the phone, and Damon expressed interest in working with him, praising Cameron’s filmmaking and finding the ‘Avatar’ project interesting. However, Damon explained he had already committed to the next Jason Bourne movie, creating a scheduling conflict, and had to decline. Cameron emphasized that no offer was ever made, no specific character was discussed, and the issue simply came down to Damon’s availability.

Regarding the claim that Damon would share in the film’s profits, Cameron has stated that was never going to happen, so Damon isn’t losing out on anything.

You know, what I think happened is he figured out what he would have needed to do Avatar – a full 10% of the film’s total earnings – and realized if that hadn’t been on the table, he wouldn’t have even signed on. Honestly, it’s like a weight off his shoulders now. He doesn’t need to second-guess himself or feel bad about not doing it. It’s okay, Matt! You made the right choice for you, and there’s no need to dwell on ‘what ifs’.

Even though there was a bit of confusion, Cameron appreciated that Damon personally contacted him to decline a role in Avatar. Cameron specifically mentioned that Damon’s decision to deliver the news in person was something he considered very respectful and honorable.

I have a lot of respect for Matt and would enjoy collaborating with him in the future, but it just never worked out. A lot of different factors prevented it.

Cameron’s latest Avatar movie, Avatar: Fire and Ash, will release in theaters on December 19, 2025.

Originally reported by Anthony Nash on ComingSoon.

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2025-12-18 22:17