20th Century Studios
It’s widely known that Matt Damon is recognized as the individual who declined both a share and the lead role in James Cameron’s “Avatar” films. He shouldn’t be too disappointed, however, as he wasn’t the only one who lost the chance to travel to Pandora. Prior to Sam Worthington taking on the character of Na’vi convert Jake Sully, two equally intriguing stars were considered for donning blue CGI skin.
During a discussion on the Empire podcast, Cameron disclosed that MCU stars Chris Evans, aka Steve Rogers, and the present Gambit, Channing Tatum, were both approached for the role before the director made his final decision. “Chris Evans, and Sam, and Channing Tatum. That was my choice,” Cameron reminisced. “I genuinely appreciated Channing’s charm. I liked Chris’ appeal. They were both exceptional guys. But Sam possessed a distinctive voice quality and a certain intensity.” This casting decision resulted in Sam Worthington featuring in three of Cameron’s fantastical adventures since 2009, culminating in “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” set for release on December 19, 2025.
According to Cameron, it only required one pivotal moment in the initial film to confirm his leading man and prove that Worthington was prepared to lead the Na’vi into warfare. After all, embarking on a war requires an electrifying speech, and Worthington accomplished it flawlessly on his first attempt.
