Josh Gad Reveals He Almost Landed a Role in Avatar

Josh Gad, known for his role as Olaf in Disney’s Frozen, recently revealed he came close to starring in James Cameron’s 2009 blockbuster Avatar. In his memoir In Gad We Trust, the actor shared his surprising journey from Broadway to auditioning for the sci-fi epic.

Gad, eager to transition from his role in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, auditioned for the part of Jake Sully’s best friend and translator to the Na’vi. After submitting a tape, Gad received a call that Cameron was impressed and invited him to Los Angeles for a final callback.

However, Gad didn’t land the role, which ultimately went to Joel David Moore, who played Norm Spellman. Reflecting on the rejection, Gad humorously wrote, “James Cameron was thrilled with my audition, but when I was turned into a digital Avatar, I supposedly looked like a tall, overweight Smurf.”

Avatar went on to become the highest-grossing film of all time, earning $2.9 billion worldwide. Its sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water, has also been a massive success, with a lifetime gross of $2.3 billion.

Fans are eagerly awaiting the third installment, titled Avatar: Fire and Ash, which James Cameron announced at the 2024 D23 Expo. The film is set to release on December 19, 2025.