They are still casting Avatar?

Or is this simply an old deal that has just been made public?

Variety report that Matt Gerald has been cast as the lead villain in James Cameron’s epic 3D return to cinema, due out in May 2009.

You may remember Gerald as the SWAT team leader in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines and he’s actually made a nice career for himself playing similar roles in other things like SWAT and The Shield. He’s also landed himself a decent part in the adaptation of Fight Club author Chuck Palahniuk’s novel Choke due out next year but it still goes without saying this is the dude’s biggest role to date.

Avatar is the story of a wounded ex-marine, thrust unwillingly into an effort to settle and exploit an exotic planet rich in bio-diversity, who eventually crosses over to lead the indigenous race in a battle for survival.

source - coming soon