Josh Gad Says Avatar Role Fell Through Due to His ‘Overweight Smurf’ Na’vi

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Josh Gad, an actor, has been a part of the entertainment industry since his early years. Primarily recognized for lending his voice to Olaf in the Frozen film franchise, he also stars in Wolf Like Me. His latest release is a memoir titled In Gad We Trust: A Tell-Some, which discloses that he almost joined the cast of James Cameron’s 2009 blockbuster sci-fi movie, Avatar.

Josh Gad reveals he almost joined Avatar cast

In January 2025, Josh Gad published his memoir titled “In Gad We Trust: A Tell-Some.” This book contains a series of personal essays where Gad shares insights into his life, discussing topics such as the effect his parents’ separation had on him, his battles with weight and self-perception, and his years in show business. He reveals that he sought acting opportunities in films and TV shows to temporarily step away from his Broadway work for the play “The 25th Annual Putman County Spelling Bee.” One of the roles he auditioned for was in the movie “Avatar.

According to Gad, he recorded himself and soon received a phone call inviting him to travel to Los Angeles for a last round of auditions at Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment headquarters, as reported by Varity.

The character Gad was said to be intended for Dr. Norm Spellman, a scientist originally slated to head the diplomatic mission to the Na’vi. However, it was Joel David Moore who ended up being chosen for that part.

In his memoir, Gad states that Cameron appeared delighted with Gad’s audion. Regardless, Gad wasn’t chosen for the Avatar film cast. The actor explains that he was rejected because when they digitally transformed him into an Avatar, he supposedly resembled a tall and overweight Smurf.

After its initial release, the film Avatar achieved immense acclaim from both critics and audiences. Holding the title of highest-grossing movie ever without accounting for inflation, its success paved the way for several sequels. These include Avatar: The Way of Water released in 2022, as well as future installments such as Avatar: Fire and Ash set for release in 2025, followed by Avatar 4 and Avatar 5 in 2029 and 2031 respectively.

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2025-01-21 14:40