James Cameron Comments on Story Surrounding the Titan Sub Tragedy.
James Cameron expressed his discontent with an “offensive” rumor that was circulating in multiple U.K. publications regarding the Titan submersible tragedy.
The rumor, initially reported by The Sun, stated that James Cameron was in discussions with a major streaming platform to direct a movie or series based on the tragic final voyage of the Titan, where five people lost their lives. The story was sourced anonymously.
“I usually don’t address offensive rumors in the media, but I feel the need to clarify now,” Cameron stated on Twitter. “I am NOT in discussions for an OceanGate film, and I never will be.”
According to the original story, an anonymous source claimed that the Titan disaster was being considered for a major series by a prominent streaming platform, and James Cameron was the top choice to direct. The source mentioned that the subject matter was close to Cameron’s heart, considering his compassionate portrayal of the Titanic. The story also suggested that Cameron was trying to secure A-list actors like Matt Damon for the series.
Following the recent tragedy involving the Titan submersible, James Cameron, who is well-known for his expertise in deep-sea submersibles, provided several interviews where he explained the technical aspects of what went wrong.
During an interview with ABC News, Cameron expressed that there were concerns within the community about the experimental nature of the submersible. He mentioned that people had written letters to the company, urging them to seek certification for their operations. Drawing a parallel to the Titanic disaster, Cameron noted the similarity in the captain’s disregard for warnings and the resulting loss of lives. He found it astonishing and surreal that a similar tragedy occurred at the same location.
As a submersible designer himself, Cameron acknowledged the challenges involved in creating a safe and successful craft for deep-sea dives. He defended the practice of deep-sea dives, emphasizing his understanding of the intricacies and risks associated with these endeavors.
“It’s extremely important for people to understand that deep submersible diving is a well-established practice,” Cameron emphasized. “The safety record is exceptional, with no accidents or fatalities. While the incident with the Titan is a nightmare scenario we’ve always been aware of, it’s not representative of the overall safety and reliability of deep diving operations.”
In his interview with BBC News, Cameron expressed his intuitive understanding of the tragic fate of the submersible soon after the news broke. He described a sense of certainty about the situation, noting the simultaneous failure of the sub’s electronics, communication system, and tracking transponder as indicators of its demise. Cameron emphasized that he knew the sub was located precisely where its last known depth and position indicated, and the subsequent search confirmed this. He compared the situation to a nightmarish charade, with people discussing various factors while the reality of the sub’s fate became apparent.
In Cameron’s highly successful film Titanic, released in 1997, he prominently featured footage of the real wreckage of the Titanic and showcased the use of submersibles to explore the remains of the sunken ship.
Based on the findings of a search-and-rescue team, the U.S. Coast Guard concluded that the missing submersible imploded during its dive near the wreckage site of the Titan. The assessment was made after debris from the submersible was discovered on the ocean floor. Tragically, it was determined that all those on board the submersible were killed instantly.
OceanGate Expeditions, the company that operated the submarine, had its CEO, Stockton Rush, among the individuals who tragically lost their lives. Rush had faced criticism due to his previous interviews where he appeared to have a casual approach to safety and had utilized standard components for certain parts of the submarine that lacked proper certification.
