Comedian and podcast host Marc Maron is nothing if not outspoken, and that's always been the case when it comes to his acting career. Now, he's revealed that, after starring in Netflix's GLOW and Joker, he very nearly nabbed a part in James Cameron's Avatar: The Way of Water as Dr. Ian Garvin, the RDA marine biologist who was ultimately played by Jemaine Clement.
During a recent interview with Josh Horowitz, Maron reflected on being given the opportunity to audition for a role in the sequel to the biggest movie ever, but wasn't exactly enthused by the experience.
"That was ridiculous. Why the f*** would I want that job? There’s this assumption that we’re going to do four Avatar movies," he recalls. "Dude, I don’t even remember the first one! I don’t know what this all means to the world. [James Cameron] built this city down there [at his Long Beach studio]."
"There’s people doing acrobatics down there, people flying…it’s like Cirque du Soleil down there. All of a sudden you’re in this zone with people [James] just has there to read parts and fly and be on dollies. I’m on camera I think. I got a picture a boat or whatever the [frick] it is...I’m in the middle of this thing and I’m totally untethered and I have no sense of character."
"I have no idea what’s happening other than there are several unidentified actors and acrobats all around me. Thank God [I didn’t get the part]. I don’t like being away from home. My agent was like, 'You’re probably going to go to New Zealand for four years,' or whatever the f*** it was."
He'd add, "I was like, it’s not happening. Then [Cameron] sent me a box of cigars because he didn’t cast me. Ok, that’s nice. At this age, I have no problem saying no."
The Avatar movies are certainly a bit commitment and it's hard to imagine the GLOW alum meshing well with the sci-fi franchise.
Clement was fine in the Avatar follow-up and is expected to return for the sequel, while Maron continues to pick and choose the acting gigs he wants to be part of (we're not banking on the MCU ever being one of them based on past comments). It's fascinating to hear what he went through during that audition, anyway, and we hope he enjoyed those cigars if nothing else!
Avatar: The Way of Water is still playing in theaters and should hit Disney+ soon.