In his heartfelt memoir, "In Gad We Trust," the talented yet famously frozen actor Josh Gad reveals a harrowing tale of body-shaming that almost cost him a role in the blockbuster "Avatar." Gad recounts how, despite his burgeoning success following his Broadway stint, he was digitally transformed into one of the film's iconic blue Na'vi characters only to be told that he resembled "a tall, overweight Smurf," ultimately dooming his chances at landing the part.
The journey began optimistically for Gad, who writes that auditing for "Avatar," directed by the legendary James Cameron in 2009, marked "one of the first steps" in his return to film and television. His audition tape seemed to pave the way, as he soon received a call inviting him to Los Angeles for a final callback at Cameron's Lightstorm production offices.
The role Gad was vying for was that of Jake Scully's (played by Sam Worthington) best friend and translator to the enigmatic Na'vi alien race. Gad shares that his audition went swimmingly, with Cameron reportedly "thrilled" with his performance. However, it was Gad's physical appearance, particularly his weight, that reportedly undermined his chances. As he puts it, "I apparently did not get [the job]" because "when my image was transformed into a digital Avatar, I was deemed to resemble a tall, chubby Smurf."
Ironically, the character Gad auditioned for appears to have merged with that of Norm Spellman, the anthropologist portrayed by Joel David Moore, who ended up filling the shoes as the Na'vi language translator in the film.
Gad's memoir also dishes out juicy behind-the-scenes anecdotes from his illustrious career, including an intriguing encounter with his "Love & Other Drugs" co-star Jake Gyllenhaal. Gad reveals that when he played Gyllenhaal a demo of a new musical he had workshopped in New York, seeking the actor's advice, Gyllenhaal warned him, "Dude, you cannot do whatever this is. This will be way too controversial."
Undeterred by Gyllenhaal's counsel, Gad went ahead to star as Elder Cunningham, one of the main protagonists in "The Book of Mormon," the Broadway show created by the minds behind "South Park." This pivotal role not only earned Gad his sole Tony nomination for Best Actor but also a Grammy for the hit musical's soundtrack, proving that sometimes, following one's own path can lead to unparalleled success and recognition.
