Exactly four weeks ago yesterday on June 18, the OceanGate Titan submersible went down to view the wreckage of the Titanic with five passengers on board. Before two full hours passed the submersible had lost contact with their main ship, and by June 22 the Coast Guard confirmed that debris was found from a “catastrophic implosion” and that all passengers had perished. James Cameron–film director, deep-sea explorer, environmental advocate–waited until it was announced that the debris had been found before making any public comments. Aside from directing the 1997 film Titanic, he has legit credentials as a deep-sea expert, having visited the Titanic site 33 times, gone to the Mariana Trench and been an active participant in the development and engineering of submersibles. So when he finally spoke to say unequivocally that OceanGate should never have been allowed to operate, people listened. Some, it seems, listened and took away the wrong message, as Cameron had to take to his socials this weekend to deny that he is (or ever will be) working on an OceanGate film:
James Cameron is denying rumors that he’s going to be part of an OceanGate-film.
The Academy Award winner shared on his Instagram Story on Saturday that, despite rumors, he will not be working on a movie about the company behind the Titan submersible that imploded during a journey to the Titanic wreckage last month.
“I don’t respond to offensive rumors in the media usually, but I need to now,” the filmmaker wrote to his Instagram fans. “I’m NOT in talks about an OceanGate film, nor will I ever be.”
The Titanic director shared the sentiment on Twitter, too. His statement follows reports from the Daily Mail and The Sun about Cameron allegedly being approached for a series about the Titan submersible disaster.
On June 22, a search for the missing submersible that was traveling to the site of the Titanic wreckage ended when debris was found on the ocean floor that likely was caused by a “catastrophic implosion,” assumed to be that of Titan.
Five people were aboard the Titan when it disappeared and imploded on Father’s Day: OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, 61, British Pakistani billionaire Shahzada Dawood, 48, and his son Suleman Dawood, 19, British billionaire Hamish Harding, 58, and Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, 77.
Days later, the U.S. Coast Guard revealed that “presumed human remains” were recovered while searching through the wreckage. What was believed to be remains “were carefully recovered” within the wreckage, and the Marine Board of Investigation (MBI) transported them for further analysis and testing.
As “research” for this article I re-watched Titanic yesterday, and it really is so good. I remember going to see it in a packed cinema when it first came out, and I remember later having a two-tape VHS copy at home. What I didn’t clue into as a kid, that was so apparent to me watching the film now, is what a perfect commentary it is on class structure. There are the immigrant, poorer classes in steerage and in the belly of the ship keeping her fueled, literally making the ship run. But the gilded class enjoy all the finery (and eventually all the lifeboats). When he spoke last month Cameron noted the striking parallels between Titanic and OceanGate, citing hubris as a key example. I think there’s also a link between the disasters when it comes to class. I mean, those five passengers paid up to $250,000 each to take that trip.
So, do I think at some point there will be a movie made about this disaster? For sure. And it doesn’t come out of nowhere to connect James Cameron to such a project, his name in the conversation is logical, even if he never will partake (after all he is busy with the next Avatar: The Way of the Box Office and that $33 million ranch to sell). What is offensive, to borrow Cameron’s word choice, is to start this conversation when it’s been a mere month since the OceanGate disaster occurred. But, since the rumor was started by The Sun and Daily Mail, I assume the next story they’ll run is that the Sussexes are producing this (non-existent) film.
I don’t respond to offensive rumors in the media usually, but I need to now. I’m NOT in talks about an OceanGate film, nor will I ever be.
— James Cameron (@JimCameron) July 15, 2023
Photos credit: Cover Images, JPI Studios / Avalon
He said film, so I’m thinking dramatic movie “inspired by Oceangate.” So I’m wondering if he’d be onboard at a more tactful time to do a documentary. I think it could be a great opportunity to educate the masses about the deep sea and inspire more environmental activists.
Maybe there won’t actually be a time where this will be tactful. I’m not really sympathetic to any of the five except the kid so my thoughts might be skewed here.
People really need to leave James Cameron alone. Stop trying to tie him in with that disaster.
He had no part of any of it, other than giving his opinion.
I’m not sure what would be served by making a film or documentary about Oceangate – it was a swift and horrible tragedy.
There are so many Titanic sources out there, but I’ve been watching a YouTube channel – Tasting History with Max Miller – he has recipes and menus from all the classes on the Titanic, personal stories of the workers and passengers, and images of the staterooms and public spaces.
I disagree with you @eurydice. I think a documentary could be really fascinating and educational. They were completely different vessels and their demise, outside of hubris, were for completely different reasons. All the info we have about the Titanic does nothing to explain the implosion of a deep sea vessel.
We don’t need info from the Titanic to explain what happened to the Oceangate – it was a faulty design and it imploded. But it might be interesting to look at it along with other engineering disasters, like the Challenger shuttle – and, for real drama, hubris, class differences and engineering stupidity, the Johnstown Flood.
Oh I will have to check out Tasting History! Thank you! That sounds really interesting.
I LOVE tasting history, it’s an excellent show.
He just came out with a really good cookbook too
Well, the UK’s Channel 5 already had a documentary about the Titan ready to air before the deaths were even confirmed (they pulled it when confirmation was publicized) so someone will definitely make a doc or movie about the Titan soon. Bc despite the morbidity, just like the Titanic, many people are fascinated with this tragedy, its passengers, and the greed and hubris of Oceangate.
Newfound respect to James Cameron for 1) refusing to use his own submersibles for tourism/passengers to the Titanic, 2) using his well earned expertise to speak up about the extreme dangers of going that deep into the ocean and 3) refusing to get involved with profiting off of this tragedy. The families haven’t even had time to grieve and the vultures are circling. Let the families grieve in peace.
Cameron is a perfectionist. Even the dogs in the film match the dogs that sadly perished in the real Titanic. So sad.
In his case, that’s probably a really good trait to have. Any little tiny error could be deadly. Now I gotta look up his zodiac sign
I’d have guessed virgo but he’s actually a leo with nothing in virgo.
Virgo was my guess too
I think the movie/documentaries will be about the hubris of the guy who kept building and running it, even while everyone was telling him it wasn’t safe.
The issue was that someone came up with the idea of carbon fiber submersibles, but they would have to be single use, because of the likelihood of their shattering because of weakening during pressurization and depressurization. Smart people realized you could never build one cheap enough for a single use to make sense. Mr Dumdum CEO decided that the whole single use thing was just weaklings not having enough vision. Al least he died because of his own foolishness. Sad he took that kid with him.
I believe him. Why would he need to be involved? There are plenty of filmmakers out there who will jump at it without someone of Cameron’s stature helming it. Thing is…the implosion is the final act of the story. It doesn’t have to be shown. The real story is the hubris and negligence of the owners in the design and construction of the submissible. The obvious signs they were courting danger. Those deaths are tragic, but ultimately unimportant to the story.
I understand this. He is deeply involved in the submersible community which, as I understand it, is very small and very tight knit. Making a movie and capitalizing on the tragedy would feel so wrong, I’m sure.