Damon And Gyllenhaal Refuse To Play Jake Sully In AVATAR

James Cameron revealed, via LA TIMES, that he offered the role Jake Sully to a few big names because Fox wanted “a bankable star to offset some of the risks of the expensive project” Turns out, Matt Damon and Jake Gyllenhaal those names but they said no, they turned down Cameron. The role eventually went to the Sam Worthington, the Aussie actor that Cameron had always wanted for AVATAR…

“I don’t think they ever had a problem with the CG, “
“Honestly, did I go out and try to woo them? No. I had my heart set on Sam. Maybe they sensed my lack of 100% commitment from me. Maybe it was the subject matter. This was a big ‘Star Wars’-type movie. They’re both serious actors.”

Why do you think Damon and Gyllenhaal declined Cameron’s offer?
Do you think they have regrets about it now that the movie has banked more than $2 Billion worldwide?
What would happen if either one of them had played Jake Sully instead of Worthington? Maybe AVATAR would’ve received an extra Oscar nomination for acting as well.
But Damon already got his own franchise, THE BOURNE, and Gyllenhaal will milk PRINCE OF PERSIA for all its got. So AVATAR or no AVATAR, they’ll live.