Marc Maron On ‘Avatar’ Audition: “Ridiculous…Why The F*ck Would I Want That Job?”

You might be aware that Matt Damon turned down a lucrative offer to star as Jake Sully and participate in the profits of James Cameron’s “Avatar” films. Still, not everyone who missed that gravy train of a franchise has regretted it. Comedian, actor, and notable podcaster Marc Maron spoke with “Happy Sad Confused” host Josh Horowitz (via Instagram) about his own encounter with the box office juggernaut franchise.

Maron talked about his “Avatar” audition in Long Beach, California with Cameron, and unsurprising the comedian isn’t shy about how miserable he would have been if he decided to shoot “Avatar: The Way of Water” (and more installments) in New Zealand had he got the blockbuster part. Given the lengthy time commitment, they were asking of actors.

READ MORE: James Cameron Talks “Brave Choices” Made For New ‘Avatar’ Film & Confirms 3-Hour Runtime

“That was ridiculous. Why the f*** would I want that job? Number one…You drive out to like Long Beach, where [James Cameron] owns Long Beach. Look, he’s not a bad guy, I don’t think, I don’t know. But you know, you go out there, and you go into his office, and he goes, ‘I want you to read for this part.’ I don’t remember what it was. It was a doctor or a scientist who drank…I think the guy from ‘Flight of The Conchords’ got it.”

Maron adds “good” when Horowitz reminds him it was Jemaine Clement’s role he was up for. This was the role of marine biologist Ian Garvin, who went to the Kiwi comedian, and Maron sounds extremely relieved that it went down like that. We have to assume that Clement is going to be returning to subsequent films as his character didn’t perish, but you can hear the strife in Maron’s pained response to the idea of having to go down there for multiple shoots didn’t sound too pleasant of an idea for him.

Maron’s true introvert and homebody persona was also in full swing as to why he wasn’t thrilled about living in New Zealand for four years, and that softened the blow when he didn’t actually get the gig.

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“I don’t like being away from home; you know it’s not my bag…I just got anxious thinking about being there for a week. What am I gonna eat? So, ‘You’re probably going to New Zealand for four years,’ and I’m like, ‘Forget you… it’s not happening.’ I have no problem with it. I had nothing invested in it other than the experience of alright, I’ll go take the meeting,” and then he sent me a box of cigars cause he didn’t cast me.”

Hiring a local like Clement sounds like a better alternative for sure.

If anyone ends up making a parody of “Avatar,” I really hope they give Maron a call. He certainly has a good sense of humor about the experience.