Josh Gad Says He Missed Out on a Role in ‘Avatar’ Because He Looked Like a “Tall Overweight Smurf”

In his new memoir, In Gad We Trust, Josh Gad revealed that he auditioned to play a Na’vi in James Cameron’s Avatar. Unfortunately, he did not have quite the right look.

As Gad recalls, while starring in The 25th Annual Putman County Spelling Bee on Broadway, he auditioned for various TV and film projects. One of those productions was Avatar.

Josh Gad has revealed that he auditioned for James Cameron’s ‘Avatar’. Photo: D23

“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,” Gad writes.

James Cameron Was Impressed

The actor auditioned for the role of Norm Spellman, a confidant of Jake Sully, who is an expert on the Na’vi language. According to the Gad, James Cameron loved his performance. However, there was one problem.

Photo: Complex.com

“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,” he recalled.

Photo: JustWatch

Eventually, Joel David Moore would be cast in the role. He would later reprise his performance as Spellman in 2023’s Avatar: The Way of Water.

Gad’s Happy Ending

After not getting the role, Gad would have to watch as Avatar became the highest-grossing film of all time. Luckily for the actor, a little film called Frozen would come along just four years later.

Olaf’s Frozen Adventure – on Disney+

The rest, as they say, is history.