Matt Damon has said he still regrets declining the lead role in James Cameron’s 2002 science-fiction drama *Solaris*, despite the film becoming a commercial flop. He had wanted to work with Cameron, but turned it down because he had already committed to *The Bourne Identity*, a decision he felt he had to honour.

The role ultimately went to George Clooney, and *Solaris* earned about $30 million worldwide against an estimated $47 million budget. Damon later said he was “really upset” about missing the opportunity, while accepting that abandoning his existing commitment would have been unfair to the *Bourne* production.