The legendary filmmaker recently addressed the long-running debate in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, where some fans have questioned why he has focused almost exclusively on the Avatar franchise for the past few decades. Cameron made it clear that he has no patience for that criticism.
“I’m feeling fulfilled as an artist,” Cameron said. He added that people unhappy with his choices are free to make their own films one day — or “just stay the f**k out of it.” He compared the criticism to judging someone for staying married to the same person for years, calling it “none of your business.”
Cameron stressed that he has no regrets about dedicating so much of his career to Pandora. For him, the Avatar films represent creative freedom, technological innovation, and stories he genuinely wants to tell.
That said, Cameron revealed he is open to doing things differently in the future. While he has no plans to abandon Avatar, he says he doesn’t want to spend years at a time working only on one franchise. If Avatar 4 and Avatar 5 move forward, he plans to step back slightly as a director and rely more on collaboration.
This would include giving greater creative responsibility to his second-unit teams, who already play a significant role in the films. Cameron said this approach has been growing with each installment, including the upcoming Avatar: Fire and Ash.
Importantly, his decision to pull back has nothing to do with a dislike of CGI. Cameron strongly defended digital filmmaking, arguing that visual effects can rival — or even surpass — practical methods. He noted that a fully CGI car chase could be just as convincing as one filmed on real roads.
Despite his love for advanced technology, Cameron’s favorite shot from his career comes from a very practical moment: the sunset kiss scene in Titanic. He recalled how the sky suddenly cleared at the last moment, giving the crew just minutes of perfect light. Kate Winslet famously ran to the bow of the ship and called for cameras to roll, creating what Cameron considers his most memorable scene.
Looking ahead, Cameron’s future remains busy but uncertain. Avatar 4 and Avatar 5 have been written, and parts of the fourth film have already been shot. However, Cameron has suggested that Fire and Ash could mark the end of the current trilogy, with future films depending on the third movie’s success.
Beyond Avatar, Cameron is also working on Terminator 7, adapting the World War II book Ghosts of Hiroshima, and co-writing The Devils, based on Joe Abercrombie’s fantasy novel.
For now, one thing is clear: James Cameron stands firmly by his creative decisions. Spending decades in the world of Avatar is not something he regrets — and he wouldn’t change it for anything.
Audiences will return to Pandora when Avatar: Fire and Ash releases in theatres on December 19.
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