Josh Gad Says He Was Denied a Role in ‘Avatar’ Because He Looked Like a ‘Tall Overweight Smurf’ As a Na’vi

variety.com:

Jack Dunn Josh Gad almost landed a role in the 2009 sci-fi epic “Avatar,” but he didn’t quite have the physical archetype James Cameron was looking for.

In his new memoir, “In Gad We Trust,” the “Frozen” actor recalls while desperate to find a reprieve from starring in “The 25th Annual Putman County Spelling Bee” on Broadway, he went out to audition for other TV and film roles.

And “one of the first things” he tried out for was 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,” he said.

If cast, Gad would’ve played “the role of Jake Sully’s (Sam Worthington) best friend and translator to the alien race known as the Na’vi.” Gad continued, “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.” The role appeared to be scooped up by Joel David Moore, who plays Norm Spellman in “Avatar,” a close confidant to Jake Sully and an expert on the Na’vi language. “Avatar,” released Dec.