We've said it before, and we'll say it again: There aren't many directors out there who can completely shut a studio down when they ask for something, but James Cameron is one of them!
The legendary filmmaker recently recalled clashing with 20th Century Fox when they asked him to trim down the first Avatar's run-time by removing a key flying sequence, and he's now elaborated on how volatile the situation actually became during a new interview with GQ (via SFFGazette.com).
Cameron revealed that he was approached by one particular exec (he declined to name names) with a “stricken cancer-diagnosis expression," who pleaded with him to trim the film's lengthy run-time in the build-up to its theatrical release.
“I said something I’ve never said to anybody else in the business,” Cameron began. ”I think this movie is going to make all the f*cking money. And when it does, it’s going to be too late for you to love the film. The time for you to love the movie is today. So I’m not asking you to say something that you don’t feel, but just know that I will always know that no matter how complimentary you are about the movie in the future when it makes all the money.”
At this, Cameron says the nameless exec "flipped out and went bug shit on me," so he "told him to get the f*ck out of my office."
Of course, the movie did make "all the f*cking money." It's still the highest-grossing film of all time at the worldwide box office (unadjusted for inflation), and Cameron will be hoping his upcoming sequel The Way of Water - which is a good 30 mins longer than its predecessor - will be able to match its success.
The Way of Water will have to turn a massive profit just to break even, but we'll find out if audiences are still willing to turn up in droves for another trip to Pandora when the movie hits theatres on December 10.