Was Josh Gad “Too Ugly” for Avatar? The truth behind the casting rumor

• Josh Gad, known for his comedic on-screen characters, shares his near opportunity in “Avatar.”
• Gad would have portrayed Jake Sully’s best friend, Norm Spellman, in the film.
• Sam Worthington took on the role of Jake Sully, while Joel David Moore played Norm Spellman.

In his new memoir, “In Gad We Trust”, Josh Gad shares old stories and reveals that he came close to being cast in James Cameron’s 2009 blockbuster “Avatar”. The highly acclaimed actor celebrated for his memorable and comedic on-screen characters, opens up about this near opportunity.

In his memoir, the “Frozen” voice actor reveals that he auditioned for “a new James Cameron movie called “Avatar.”

“I put myself on tape and shortly thereafter got a call that Cameron wanted to fly me to Los Angeles for a final callback at his Lightstorm production offices,” the Murder on the Orient Express actor wrote in his memoir.

Josh Gad then shared that “he ultimately did not get the role. Explaining the reason, the Wedding Ringer actor revealed that while James Cameron was impressed by his audition, the movie’s digital team ran into an unexpected issue. When they transformed him into a Na’vi—one of the blue-skinned aliens from the film—he “supposedly looked like a tall, overweight Smurf.”

Had he landed the role, Josh Gad would have portrayed Jake Sully’s best friend—a skilled translator for the alien race. Sam Worthington ultimately took on the role of Jake Sully.

Joel David Moore eventually secured the part, playing Norm Spellman in the first “Avatar” installment. Norm served as a close confidant to Jake Sully and demonstrated expertise in the Na’vi language.

“Avatar” hit theaters on December 18, 2009, and has since earned over $2.9 billion worldwide.

The sequel, “Avatar: The Way of Water”, premiered in 2022. The third installment, “Avatar: Fire and Ash”, is scheduled for release on December 19, 2025.

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