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Matt Damon, Jake Gyllenhaal Turned Down Avatar

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Talk about regret!

Both Jake Gyllenhaal and Matt Damon turned down the starring role in blockbuster Avatar, the movie's director, James Cameron, tells the Los Angeles Times.

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"I don't think they ever had a problem with the CG," Cameron said. "Honestly, did I go out and try to woo them? No. I had my heart set on Sam. Maybe they sensed my lack of 100 percent commitment from me. Maybe it was the subject matter. This was a big Star Wars-type movie. They're both serious actors."

Instead, Sam Worthington — who was living in his car while struggling to become an actor — got the part. Cameron tells the Times that he only approached big-name stars to please the movie studio, but Worthington was always his first choice.

Read Us' review of Avatar

Worthington has already signed up for the sequel to the flick, which has earned more than $2.5 billion in theaters worldwide.

Related: See what Gyllenhaal -- and other stars -- looked like as kids

Gyllenhaal, 29, next stars in Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. Damon, 39, is up for best actor in a supporting role for drama Invictus.

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