Josh Gad, renowned for his comedic prowess and Broadway stardom, recently shared an intriguing chapter from his career that saw him nearly step into the world of Pandora. Gad auditioned for a role in James Cameron's groundbreaking film, Avatar, with hopes of securing the part of Jake Sully's best friend and translator to the Na'vi. This role, which was one of the first major auditions Gad pursued, could have marked a significant milestone in his career.
In 2006, while starring as William Barfée in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee on Broadway, Gad faced a pivotal moment. His desire to audition for Avatar led him to plead with producer David Stone for a release from the show, citing mental health reasons.
"I begged the producer, David Stone, to let me go for my own mental health, but he told me that it wasn't an option." – Josh Gad
Despite initial reluctance, Stone eventually permitted Gad to audition for film and television roles without leaving the show entirely. Consequently, Gad found himself at Cameron's Lightstorm production offices in Los Angeles for a final callback. The opportunity seemed promising, as the character he was auditioning for would have had substantial screen time alongside Sam Worthington's Jake Sully.
"One of the first things I went out for was a new James Cameron movie called Avatar." – Josh Gad
However, the path to Pandora was not without its challenges. During the audition process, director James Lapine informed Gad that he had heard about his potential absence from the Broadway show. In response, Gad expressed frustration over the constraints placed upon him.
"I finally lost it. 'Then f
