The role that Maron lost out on was as Dr. Ian Garvin, a marine biologist working for the Resources Development Administration, and it ended up going to “Flight of the Conchords” star Jemaine Clement, which was probably for the better for everyone involved. Maron explained that while he did audition, he realized pretty quickly that he didn’t actually want the part:
“That was ridiculous. Why the f*** would I want that job? There’s this assumption that we’re going to do four ‘Avatar’ movies. Dude, I don’t even remember the first one! I don’t know what this all means to the world. [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.”
Maron went to read for his part and was standing on a boat while people flew around him on dollies, and it was completely confusing. He described himself as being “totally untethered” as the actors and acrobats swirled around him. It was really no surprise when he didn’t get the part given his lackluster audition, but Maron was relieved. He didn’t quite realize what he was getting into until he was in the middle of it, and then it was too much and way too late.