James Cameron argued with Fox in 2009 when they wanted to shorten ‘Avatar’: “You know what? I did ‘Titanic'”

On the occasion of the long-awaited premiere of ‘Avatar: The Sense of Water’, and the return of ‘Avatar’ to theaters later this month, its director James Cameron is releasing several interviews in which he is revealing many secrets about the highest-grossing film in history. On this occasion, in an interview for the New York Times, Cameron assured that he had to argue with the executives of 20th Century Fox in his day not to have to cut the original film..

Although Disney is the owner of “Avatar”, in 2009 it was Fox that produced the blockbuster film. The executives of the giant American company wanted to cut both a key battle sequence in the film and the famous flight scene: “I think at the time I felt like we were fighting over certain things. For example, the studio felt that the film should be shorter and that there were too many flights of the ikranes, what humans call banshee. Well, it turns out that’s what the public liked the most, based on our exit polls and data collection. “.

“And that’s where I just drew a line in the sand and said, ‘You know what? I made “Titanic”. This building we’re meeting in now, this new $ 500,000 complex on your land … “Titanic” paid for it, so I have to do it.”Cameron added. “Later, they thanked me. I feel my job is to protect their investment, often against their own judgment. But as long as you protect your investment, all is forgiven.”.

Final score

Finally, the film, as we have already said, it became the highest grossing in history, raising more than two billion dollars. Subsequently, it was overtaken by “Avengers: Endgame”, although thanks to its re-release in theaters it managed to regain that first position.

Cameron reflected on how that process would lead to such positive results: “It’s a very intense process when you are editing a film and you have to fight for every frame that remains. I feel very good about the creative decisions that were made back then. Since then we have spent a lot of time and energy improving our process. “.

“Avatar” returns to Spanish cinemas on September 30th with its remastered version to warm up the engines ahead of the premiere of “Avatar: The Sense of Water”, which hits the big screen on December 16. Tickets for the revival of ‘Avatar’ are already on sale.