The actor clarified that his decision to decline the project “wasn’t based on” the director.
Josh Brolin believes he upset James Cameron by turning down a role the director offered him — and he has shared his thoughts on the possible reasons.
The No Country for Old Men actor recently discussed his decision to decline a part in an Avatar sequel that the Titanic filmmaker had envisioned for him.
Advertisement 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 said in a new interview for In Depth With Graham Bensinger.
However, Brolin admitted that he wasn’t truly aware of Cameron’s reaction after he turned down the opportunity to collaborate with him.
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.
the actor said
Previously, Brolin mentioned that he had no issue confronting the antagonism he encountered after declining the sci-fi saga.
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.
he said in a 2017 interview with Esquire
Brolin also mentioned during his In Depth interview that his eventual involvement in a sprawling sci-fi series happened entirely by accident.
I wasn’t trying to get Dune. I went in to pitch a different idea. And then I ended up — [producer] Mary Parent looked at me and was like, ‘What about Josh for Dune?’
he said
The actor immediately accepted the offer, citing his positive experience collaborating with Dune director Denis Villeneuve on Sicario in 2015.
I didn’t even need to read that, because it’s Denis, and I love Denis. So I had a relationship with Denis, and it was like, ‘I don’t care what the role is, I’ll do anything with you.’
he explained.
Brolin also reminisced about a failed Hunchback of Notre Dame project that never came to fruition.
I remember Johnny Depp was going to be the poet, and I’d met with Tim Burton in Cannes and was on Johnny’s boat talking with Tim, and he was really into it, describing how surreal it was to discuss a potential film with such an iconic director and star. I was just like, ‘What the f—?’ And we were all in, and then the studio had a problem. I even offered it to the Coens at one point.
Brolin shared
Source: EW