James Cameron Shuts Down Matt Damon's Avatar Payday Rumour

Before Sam Worthington landed the lead in Avatar, there was plenty of talk about Matt Damon being in the running. Damon himself has claimed he was offered a whopping 10% of the film’s total earnings. With Avatar raking in over $2.5 billion at the box office and its lifetime haul sitting at $2.9 billion, that would’ve meant a payday north of $250 million for the Bourne Identity star.

But James Cameron has now set the record straight, saying the story’s been blown out of proportion. While the two did have a chat about the project, Cameron insists there was never any such deal on the table.

Clearing Up the Avatar Casting Story

Cameron says he can’t recall whether he ever sent Damon a script, but he does remember Damon ringing him up to say he couldn’t take the role because he was already locked in for another Bourne film. The director made it clear that, while they discussed the possibility of working together, there was never a formal offer or any talk about the character itself.

I can’t remember if I sent him the script or not. Then we wound up on a call and he said, ‘I love to explore doing a film with you. I have a lot of respect for you as a filmmaker. [Avatar] sounds intriguing. But I really have to do this Jason Bourne film. I’ve agreed to it, it’s a direct conflict.’ But he was never offered. There was never a deal. We never talked about the character. He felt compelled to call me personally and tell me; he said he didn’t want it to come from the agent — that’s an honourable bloke.

According to Cameron, Damon might have just assumed he’d be in for a massive cut if he’d signed on. Cameron even joked,

Matt, it’s okay, mate! You didn’t miss anything.

Respect Between Cameron and Damon

Despite the confusion, Cameron had nothing but good things to say about Damon. He appreciated the actor’s direct approach and said he’d be open to teaming up in the future. There’s no bad blood, just a bit of myth-making that’s taken on a life of its own.

Meanwhile, the Avatar franchise has gone from strength to strength, with Cameron’s own earnings from the films putting him in a league of his own. The first film alone reportedly brought him more than $350 million before taxes and fees, and the sequel, The Way of Water, added another $95 million to his tally, not counting bonuses or future revenue.

Cameron's Avatar Fortune

With the next instalment, Fire & Ash, tipped to join the exclusive $2 billion club, Cameron’s expected to pocket around $200 million from that one as well. The director has now officially joined the billionaire ranks, thanks largely to the success of his sci-fi epic.

Even if Damon had signed on, he would’ve walked away with a tidy sum, but the 10% deal was never a real offer. As for fans, the anticipation for the third film is building, with Fire & Ash set to hit cinemas on 19 December 2025.