Summary:
- Josh Brolin turned down a role in Avatar: The Way of Water, citing project-related reasons.
- James Cameron reportedly reacted angrily to Brolin’s refusal.
- Brolin revealed he once declined a lucrative role that didn’t align with his values.
- Brolin is set to reprise his role in Dune: Messiah, slated for a December 2026 release.
Josh Brolin recently reflected on his decision to turn down a role in James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water. While Cameron reportedly reacted strongly, Brolin emphasized that his decision was based on the project itself, not the filmmaker. Known for his selective approach to roles, Brolin’s career highlights include acclaimed performances in No Country for Old Men, Dune, and Sicario.
Josh Brolin’s Decision to Decline Avatar 2
Josh Brolin opened up about his choice to decline a role in Avatar: The Way of Water during an interview for In Depth With Graham Basinger. According to Brolin, James Cameron personally offered him a part in the highly anticipated sequel, but the actor opted to pass.
“I heard he was angry,” Brolin shared. “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. 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 role Brolin turned down has never been disclosed, but it was reportedly a long-term commitment if the character survived the sequel. Reflecting on the fallout, Brolin revealed,
“If I don’t want to do Avatar, I’m not going to do Avatar. 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.’ ”
Cameron, known for the challenges involved in creating Avatar 2, has not commented on Brolin’s remarks or the failed casting.
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Josh Brolin’s Career Approach: Balancing Choices and Values
Josh Brolin credits his career longevity to maintaining high personal standards and avoiding industry pressures. In the same interview, he recalled another tempting offer he declined:
“I got offered a role [with] a couple of suitcases full of money, money that I couldn’t even imagine in my lifetime,” he said. “And it was with a good actor too… I left that meeting and called my agent and said, ‘Absolutely no way.’”
After his breakout role in The Goonies, Brolin’s career faced ups and downs until a turning point with 2007’s No Country for Old Men and American Gangster. These projects cemented him as a versatile and bankable actor.
Notably, Brolin’s collaboration with Dune director Denis Villeneuve stands out.
“I wasn’t trying to get Dune,” he revealed. “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?’”
Brolin enthusiastically accepted the role of Warmaster Gurney Halleck without hesitation, saying,
“I didn’t even need to read that [script], 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.’”
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Josh Brolin is confirmed to reprise his role in Dune: Messiah, scheduled for release in December 2026.
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