James Cameron Had Strong Reaction When Josh Brolin Turned Down Avatar

As a longtime fan who has followed the ups and downs of Hollywood’s elite for decades, I find Josh Brolin’s latest interview with Graham Bensinger to be an intriguing insight into the world of high-stakes movie-making and the complex dynamics that exist between talented actors and visionary directors.


As a passionate cinephile, I must confess my disappointment when Josh Brolin declined an offer for a role in an Avatar film. During his recent interview with Graham Bensinger on Saturday, he shared some insights, albeit keeping the specifics under wraps – neither about the part nor the reasons behind his decision. It’s not the first time I’ve heard him speak about this, but it seems his viewpoint might have shifted since then.

Brolin appeared on In Depth with Graham Bensinger this weekend, and the topic of Cameron and the Avatar franchise came up. He said: “I heard he was angry. I understand it, because when you have something in your mind and you have a status and a power… you’re used to people feeling really grateful that you are offering it to them.” Brolin qualified the story by saying he doesn’t know how Cameron feels about the whole debacle for sure, adding: “I don’t know if that’s the case with him because I don’t know him well enough. But it was based on the [project]. It wasn’t based on him.”

Brolin has spoken about this disagreement before – in 2017 he mentioned it during a profile by Esquire, saying he wasn’t interested in the political games of Hollywood. He said: “If I don’t want to do Avatar, I’m not doing Avatar. James Cameron’s f-ing calling me this name and that name. Whatever. If James Cameron came to me and said, ‘Hey, man, why’d you say that?’ I’d go, ‘Because it happened.’”

Regarding James Cameron’s future plans for the Avatar series, it’s unclear which character role he had intended for Brolin. Given that this discussion dates back to 2017, it might have been about Avatar: The Way of Water, which was finally released in 2022 after multiple delays due to various reasons. Now, Cameron intends to push forward with at least three more sequels, with Avatar: Fire and Ash set to hit theaters on December 19, 2025.

Cameron’s Reputation

Brolin made clear that he declined the Avatar series, not Cameron himself. The initial release of Avatar in 2009 was a massive success, but plans for sequels were delayed so much that the concept became a meme. At the same time, some people criticized its straightforward storyline amidst its stunning visual effects. However, it’s also known that Cameron can be challenging to work with. Many collaborators like Ed Harris, Kate Winslet, Leonardo Di Caprio, and Orson Scott Card have shared their experiences of his temper publicly.

Despite not initially intending to, Brolin wound up starring in a space opera when he portrayed Gurney Halleck in both “Dune” and its sequel. In an interview with Bensinger, Brolin revealed that his decision was influenced by his positive experience working with director Villeneuve on “Sicario” in 2015. He stated: “I didn’t need to read the script, because it’s Denis, and I admire Denis. So, I already had a rapport with Denis, and I was ready to take on any role for him.

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2024-11-25 02:40