Josh Gad Explains Why He Was Denied 'Avatar' Role Despite Having Great Audition

justjared.com:

Josh Gad is looking back at auditioning for Avatar. In his newly released memoir In Gad We Trust, the 43-year-old actor recalled auditioning for James Cameron‘s 2009 epic sci-fi movie and revealed why he ended up not landing a role in the movie. Keep reading to find out more…“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,” Josh wrote, according to Variety.

If cast, Josh would have played “the role of Jake Sully’s (Sam Worthington) best friend and translator to the alien race known as the Na’vi.” “I apparently did not get [the role] because, while James Cameron was said to be thrilled with my audition, when I was turned into a digital Avatar I supposedly looked like a tall, overweight Smurf,” Josh added.

In the end, Joel David Moore played Norm Spellman in Avatar, a close confidant to Jake Sully and an expert on the Na’vi language.

Also in the memoir, Josh revealed which A-list actor urged him not to take a role in Broadway’s The Book of Mormon.