James Cameron Addresses OceanGate Film Rumors
Titanic director James Cameron is shutting down the rumors that he has a film about the ill-fated Titan submersible, which took the lives of all five of its passengers, in the works.
The filmmaker took to Twitter with a statement this morning, July 15, amid the reported spread of "offensive" rumors alleging that he was in talks to produce a film or documentary about the suspected implosion of the OceanGate-operated vessel last month, writing, "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."
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
The director has spoken out in the aftermath of the disaster, offering his opinion on the disaster in an interview ABC News, noting at the time, "I'm struck by the similarity of the Titanic disaster itself, where the captain was repeatedly warned about ice ahead of his ship, and yet he steamed at full speed into an ice field on a moonless night and many people died as a result. For us, it's a very similar tragedy where warnings went unheeded. To take place at the same exact site with all the diving that’s going on all around the world, I think it’s just astonishing. It's really quite surreal."
He's referring, of course, to the fact that OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, who died in the accident, was repeatedly warned about the dangers of ignoring standard safety protocols in the construction of the vessel.
Because of his history with the wreck site and his involvement in a number of visits, it's not a shock to hear that some would assume he may consider jumping on a retelling of the sub's final descent before anyone else.
In addition to Rush, four other people were on board the sub on the morning it disappeared. All five passengers died, including Cameron's long-time friend Paul-Henri 'PH' Nargeolet, an expert on the history of the Titanic. "You know, it's a very small community. I've known PH for 25 years, and for him to have died tragically in this way is almost impossible for me to process," he said.
While Cameron won't be involved in any media inspired by the wreck of the Titan, a UK news program produced a documentary about the search for the sub while crews were still holding out hope for a positive outcome.