It’s been more than 30 years since James Cameron started developing the Avatar movies. The first installment from 2009 was underway nearly 20 years ago, and eight years before 2025, Way of the Water and Fire and Ash were in production. While speaking to Fast Company, Cameron revealed that he was aware of how much commitment the movies would require.
It was sort of: Do the Avatar saga or follow my interests more. I knew that Avatar would be all-consuming, and it has been. When I set down that path, a reasonable projection was eight to 10 years to get it all written, and do movie two and movie three together and get them out. But it’s actually turned out to be more than that. It was a major commitment and decision to make for me as a life choice.
Before Avatar, Cameron gave us some of the best movies we had ever seen, such as The Terminator, Aliens, The Abyss, True Lies, and, of course, Titanic. So to see a talent of his stature give away decades of his life to a singular story feels counterproductive to most. But why is Cameron dedicating his whole soul and being to Avatar? And is he hampering his own potential by doing the same?
What Drives James Cameron’s Vision Behind the Avatar Movies?
Cinemagoers who’ve watched the first Avatar movie in theaters would remember the childlike wonder one felt while experiencing the world of Pandora. But for James Cameron, the Jake Sully and Na’vi saga wasn’t just about spectacle and the billion-dollar box office, but doing “some good”
It can help connect us. It can help connect us to our lost aspect of ourself that connects with nature and respects nature and all those things.
Cameron is a known environmentalist, a deep-sea explorer, and an altruist who actively supports indigenous groups. Though he’s aware that most only view movies as entertainment, he believes “Avatar is a Trojan horse strategy,” where you expect to be enthralled but then it “works on your brain and your heart a little bit in a way.”
Is the Avatar Franchise Holding Back James Cameron’s True Potential?
James Cameron has vowed to the last survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombing that he’ll direct a movie titled Ghosts of Hiroshima, based on the book by Charles Pellegrino (via Deadline). Plus, he’s also working on a new Terminator film, though it has been a challenge for the filmmaker.
James Cameron confirms he is writing a new ‘TERMINATOR’ movie.
“I’ve been unable to get started on that very far because I don’t know what to say that won’t be overtaken by real events. We are living in a science fiction age right now.”
(Source: @CNN) pic.twitter.com/6o4SVzxagz
So, it’s not like Cameron isn’t exploring other projects, but many believe he could’ve done a lot more in the past few decades if it weren’t for the Avatar movies, even when they’ve become massive box office successes.
Here’s an overview of both films:
Certainly, Cameron could have contributed significantly more to cinema if he had taken a different route and focused on diversifying his filmography. But after the success of movies like Titanic and Aliens, he turned to more personal projects and documentaries. It’s a classic example of someone making enough money to pursue what they truly want.
No one can deny the technical revolution he brought about by pushing 3D filmmaking into the mainstream and utilizing advanced motion capture technology. Along with his team, the director created new software tools, groundbreaking CGI, and underwater filming gear (via Red Shark News).
In the Fast Company interview, he speculated that his upcoming Avatar movies could be made in less time due to Generative AI. He now sits on the board of Stability AI and is once again leading the charge for filmmakers by relying on Artificial Intelligence, something he believes would truly revolutionize the industry.
So, yes, people who enjoy Cameron’s movies might think he’s wasting time on Avatar by not giving them more larger-than-life cinema. However, those who truly understand his vision and motives feel that he’s headed in the right direction.
But what’s your take? Is he indeed wasting his time on the Pandora story?
You can watch Avatar and Avatar: Way of the Water on Disney+ (USA).
