The 'Frozen' star noted that he was told 'Avatar' director James Cameron "was said to be thrilled with my audition" for the original 2009 science-fiction epic

It was a loss for Gad and the entire planet of Pandora. Josh Gad is well known for his role as Olaf in the beloved Disney movie Frozen, but he nearly landed a part in an even more adulated animated classic.

Josh Gad has revealed he missed out on the million-dollar opportunity to be in Avatar due to looking like ‘a tall, overweight Smurf’ in character. The Beauty and the Beast actor revealed the anecdote in his new memoir, In Gad We Trust, published January 14th.

The role appeared to be scooped up by Joel David Moore, who plays Norm Spellman in “Avatar,” a close confidant to Jake Sully and an expert on the Na’vi language.

Actor Josh Gad ( Frozen , Beauty and the Beast , Wolf Like Me ) almost landed a role in the 2009 sci-fi epic Avatar , but he didn’t quite have the physical archetype director James Cameron was looking for.

Josh Gad was denied the chance to star in 'Avatar' because he resembled a "tall, overweight Smurf" when he digitally turned into one of the blue characters.

In his memoir, In Gad We Trust, Josh Gad remembers narrowly missing a part in James Cameron’s Avatar. In 2006, Gad was begging to be let go from The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and was told by producer David Stone that he could be set free if he booked another job.