CNN –
Matt Damon turned down a starring role years ago, except the role could have netted the Oscar winner more than $250 million.
Appearing on Friday’s CNN episode “Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace,” Damon spoke with the host about being offered not only the lead role in James Cameron’s “Avatar” in 2009, but also a percentage of the film’s earnings.
“This is such an awful thing,” Damon joked when asked about his $250 million bill, adding that he was “sure that’s the most money an actor has ever turned down.”
Damon said he’s committed to finishing production on the “Bourne” series, which he starred in between 2002 and 2016, and he doesn’t want to “abandon” them to make Avatar.
Cameron eventually cast Sam Worthington to star alongside Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Joel David Moore and Michelle Rodriguez in the first part of the franchise.
Naturally, “Avatar” became the highest-grossing film of all time, grossing nearly $3 billion since its 2009 release.
The long-awaited sequel, Avatar: The Way of the Water, came out last year and is the third highest-grossing film of all time, grossing $2.3 billion. “Water” is behind “Avatar” and “Avengers: Endgame,” which has grossed nearly $2.8 billion since its release in 2019.
It’s a decision that may haunt him, but all indications are that Damon has gotten along just fine without venturing to Cameron’s planet Pandora.
Damon is currently starring in Christopher Nolan’s latest war epic, Oppenheimer, which hits theaters Friday.
As for Damon’s claim that his decision netted the highest amount of money an actor has ever turned down, that’s debatable.
Sean Connery was famously offered the role of the wizard Gandalf in Peter Jackson’s comprehensive film trilogy The Lord of the Rings, but he reportedly turned it down because he “didn’t get it”.
In addition, he was reportedly offered $30 million for each film, plus 15 percent of box office earnings, which would have netted the “Bond” actor around $450 million in retrospect.