James Cameron is setting the record straight regarding Matt Damon 's claim that he was offered — and turned down — the lead role in Avatar.

The director says Damon's claim that he turned down 10 percent of 'Avatar' to play Jake Sully isn't exactly true: "It wouldn't have happened. He doesn't have to beat himself up anymore."

“But he was never offered ,” Cameron said. “There was never a deal. We never talked about the character. We never got to that level. It was simply an availability issue.” The role went to Sam Worthington, who has starred in the franchise’s two sequels as well.

James Cameron has opened up about claims from Matt Damon that he almost starred in and received a cut of Avatar‘s profits. What did James Cameron say about Matt Damon’s Avatar claims? Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter,

James Cameron and Sam Worthington discuss their years-long ‘Avatar’ collaboration, box office and tackling AI: “We need to use it ethically”

James Cameron’s two previous epics, 2009’s “Avatar” and 2022’s “Avatar: The Way of Water,” each grossed well over $2 billion globally and stand as two of the biggest movies in history. So Hollywood has lofty expectations for the third installment, to say the least.

"He's the king and I can't wait to see his new movie," Peter Iliff tells PEOPLE of Cameron, whom he worked with on 1991's 'Point Break'