Payel Halder, February 22, 2023
James Cameron, the renowned filmmaker behind some of the most successful movies of all time, has expressed his interest in directing a passion project called The Last Train From Hiroshima. Before the release of the fourth installment in the Avatar franchise, Cameron hopes to adapt the book by author Charles R Pellegrino, which delves into the survivors’ experiences after the bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He has even spoken with Tsutomu Yamaguchi, the only known survivor of both attacks.
In an interview with The Los Angeles Times, Cameron emphasized the importance of the film’s message in the current political climate, particularly with the ongoing war in Ukraine and resurgent nationalism in the US. He believes that The Last Train From Hiroshima would be just as timely as ever, as it reminds people of the catastrophic effects of nuclear weapons on human targets.
Despite the massive success of Avatar: The Way of Water, which recently surpassed Titanic as the third-highest-grossing movie worldwide, Cameron maintains that all his films are made for the big screen. He has criticized the trend of streaming and expressed his fatigue with staying at home. Titanic was re-released in theaters this month around the world, and Avatar 3, which has already completed filming, is set to premiere on December 20, 2024.
Avatar 3 will focus on a new Na’vi tribe called the ‘Ash people’, who will serve as the antagonists of the film. Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, and Stephen Lang are expected to return for the upcoming installments. With three movies earning over $2 billion at the global box office, Cameron has the luxury to make any film he desires, and he hopes that The Last Train From Hiroshima will be his next masterpiece.