The LA Times recently reported James Cameron approached both Jake Gyllenhaal and Matt Damon for the lead role in his now-historic Avatar.
“I don’t think they ever had a problem with the CG… I had my heart set on Sam [Worthington, who ultimately got the role of Jake Sully]. Maybe they sensed my lack of 100% commitment from me. Maybe it was the subject matter…They’re both serious actors.”
Serious, huh? So lets ignore the anomaly that is Gyllenhaal in the Prince of Persia and turn our attention to Damon. Just what did Jason Bourne turn down the action-packed Avatar for?
An opportunity to play John F Kennedy’s younger brother Robert in Gary Ross’s new biopic.
Ross’s deal with New Regency has Damon positioned to sign on as the lead provided he likes the script. Since Eastern Promises’ Steven Knight has agreed to write, adapting Evan Thomas’ Kennedy Biography His Life, this qualification seems like a non-issue.
Robert Kennedy would be another on the growing list of real people Damon has portrayed including recent roles as rugby captain François Pienaar in Invictus and Mark Whitacre in The Informant!.
Kennedy has previously been portrayed on screen by Sheen in 1974 TV movie “The Missiles of October”, by Affleck in “The Kennedys of Massachusetts”, and more recently by Dave Fraunces in 2006′s “Bobby”.
I can’t believe that you forgot to mention that Bobby has been also been portrayed by Steven Culp in 13 Days! That movie was good even with Kevin Costner in it and Steven Culp was excellent as Bobby Kennedy.