Movies
Gyllenhaal, Damon considered for 'Avatar'
Published Friday, Jan 8 2010, 15:36 GMT | By Simon Reynolds
Rex Features
Cameron revealed that the Hollywood A-listers, who studio 20th Century Fox felt would be easy to market, were considered for the part of paraplegic marine Jake Sully before he picked unknown Sam Worthington to portray the character.
"[Gyllenhaal and Damon] were bandied about," he told MTV. "The studio was interested in having a name, I think really just for the part of it we're doing right now, which is: 'How do you sell this movie? What are the handles on this thing that we can sell it to the media somehow or get media attention?'"
He continued: "Having a name actor gets you on talk shows and all that sort of thing. So there was some value to that idea, and we explored it."
Ultimately, Cameron decided to cast Australian Worthington: "We kept coming back to Sam. Sam was the guy who just... he was the guy."
> Avatar surpasses Return Of The King
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