Jai Courtney explains the backstory behind his blink-and-you-missed-it cameo in 'Alita: Battle Angel'

AP

Jai Courtney.

• Jai Courtney told Business Insider why he agreed to a very brief cameo role in "Alita: Battle Angel."
• In the movie, he plays Jashugan, who, in the famous mangas the movie is based on, is a legend in motorball, a sport shown in the movie.
• Courtney said director Robert Rodriguez's plan is to give Jashugan a larger role if there's ever a sequel.
• But Courtney isn't holding his breath. The $170 million-plus budgeted movie has only made $400 million globally.
• "I just approached it totally with zero expectations," Courtney said. "If I get the call again then fantastic."

Jai Courtney has never been one to pass up on a fun opportunity, and it seems that was the basis for him showing up for a brief moment in "Alita: Battle Angel."

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The actor, known best for starring in big action movies like "Terminator Genisys" and "Suicide Squad," was director Robert Rodriguez's choice to make a cameo appearance as Jashugan, who in the famous mangas goes on to become a motorball legend. But there's more to the story of Courtney's involvement in "Alita."

"It was interesting," Courtney told Business Insider while doing press for his upcoming movie, "Storm Boy." "I had gone in and read for another part. I actually think I read for a couple of parts."

Courtney said he and Rodriguez had gotten to know each other around the time the director was getting "Alita" together to shoot, and the two wanted to work together, but it seemed like this wouldn't be the right project. Then Rodriguez called him during the production.

Read more: Jai Courtney says he will be back playing Captain Boomerang in the James Gunn 'Suicide Squad' movie

"'There's this role, it's a little small on paper, but if this thing blows up I'll need someone who I can rely on when we revisit it,' Courtney recalled Rodriguez telling him on the call. "And I was like, 'F--- man, of course!'" For Robert Rodriguez, I'm going to go down there and do it."

Courtney said he loved the experience working on the movie, and that it was beyond any of the other CG-heavy work he's done.

But with the $170 million-plus budgeted movie only earning $400 million globally to date, Courtney isn't waiting by the phone for that call about a sequel.

"I have no idea what the future holds with that," Courtney said. "I just approached it totally with zero expectations. If I get the call again then fantastic."