Josh Gad, the actor known for his iconic comedic roles, shares some intriguing stories from his career in his new memoir, In Gad We Trust. One of the most surprising revelations from the book is that he almost landed a role in the 2009 blockbuster Avatar, directed by James Cameron.
Gad opens up about his audition process for the movie, recalling how he submitted a tape for a part in what was then described as “a new James Cameron movie called Avatar.” He was called back soon after and was even invited to Los Angeles for a final callback at Cameron’s Lightstorm production offices.
Despite making it so far in the casting process, Gad didn’t end up with the role. He explains that although Cameron was impressed with his audition, there was an issue with the digital effects team when they tried to transform him into a Na’vi, the blue-skinned aliens central to the film. According to Gad, the transformation resulted in him looking like a “tall, overweight Smurf”—a result that, unfortunately, didn’t fit the vision for the character.
Had he been cast, Gad would have played Jake Sully’s best friend, a translator for the Na’vi people. The role eventually went to Joel David Moore, who portrayed Norm Spellman, a key figure in the story and a close ally of Sully. Sam Worthington ultimately played Jake Sully.
Avatar went on to become a massive success, earning over $2.9 billion worldwide. The movie’s sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water, was released in 2022, and fans are eagerly awaiting the third installment, Avatar: Fire and Ash, which is set to premiere on December 19, 2025.