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James Cameron has been — as the kids would say — in his bag in the lead-up to Avatar: The Way of the Water, as he’s been saying some genuinely bold things about both the project and himself in recent interviews.
In just the last few weeks alone, Cameron has publicly categorized the upcoming Avatar sequel as the “worst business in movie history” while also comparing it to The Sopranos. He’s revealed that it would take an “awoogah” horn noise to get his attention on set while also responding to SNL’s iconic sketch about the film’s logo. And still, despite all of that, his latest comments may be his most absurd yet.
Cameron — discussing the prospect of Avatar 6 and Avatar 7 despite the fact that he recently said Avatar 4 and Avatar 5 weren’t even fully guaranteed — said that in order for the franchise to continue, he’d have to “train” another director because he doesn’t think that there are any currently capable of helming an Avatar movie.
“I’d be 89 by then, Obviously, I’m not going to be able to make Avatar movies indefinitely, the amount of energy required … I would have to train somebody … because, I don’t care how smart you are as a director, you don’t know how to do this,” Cameron told The Hollywood Reporter.
James Cameron believes he’s currently the only person on Earth capable of directing an #Avatar movie 🎬
“I would have to train somebody… because, I don’t care how smart you are as a director, you don’t know how to do this.”
(via @thr) pic.twitter.com/femKAaQeEG
— Post Cred Pod (@PostCredPod) November 30, 2022
While Cameron may be vaguely right on a technical level — he has and is pioneering new CGI technology that would, of course, require some explanation — he’s ignoring the fact that there are plenty of other capable directors in the world. You’re telling me Denis Villeneuve or Christopher Nolan couldn’t hop into the Avatar director’s chair tomorrow and make a banger? Please. George Lucas didn’t even direct The Empire Strikes Back.
In addition to the original Avatar cast of Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Stephen Lang, Giovanni Ribisi, and Sigourney Weaver, Avatar: The Way of the Water stars Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, Edie Falco, Jemaine Clement, Michelle Yeoh, Brendan Cowell, Oona Chaplin, CJ Jones, and Vin Diesel. The film hits theaters in the United States on Friday, December 16.
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