James Cameron has responded to an accusation made against him by Roland Emmerich, who claimed he is “overbearing.”
Cameron’s response: yes, and?
Emmerich, 68, made his remark about Cameron, 69, during this year’s San Diego Comic-Con at Collider’s Directors on Directing panel. The “Those About To Die” director was asked by fellow filmmaker Louis Leterrier (“Fast X”) about his experience working with Cameron on the perpetually-in-development remake of “Fantastic Voyage.”
Roland Emmerich is a panelist on Collider’s Directors on Directing event at the 2024 Comic-Con International in San Diego, California, on July 26, 2024. John Salangsang/ShutterstockEmmerich was one of many directors behind a broad swath of blockbuster movies who was eyed to helm the project, which he was set to produce and co-author.
Cameron has his own punches to throw.
“I’ve never said anything negative about Roland,” the Oscar winner told the Hollywood Reporter in a new interview published on Monday, Aug. 12. “But anyway: Yes, I’m overbearing. Damn right.”
James Cameron is honored at the 2024 Disney Legends Awards during the D23 Expo in Anaheim, California, on Aug. 11, 2024. REUTERSCameron added, “When it’s a project where I’ve contributed to the writing, I might actually have an opinion on it.”
He went on to challenge Emmerich’s version of events, saying he has no recollection of speaking with the “Independence Day” filmmaker about a potential collaboration.
Roland Emmerich poses for a portrait to promote “Those About to Die” during Comic-Con International on July 25, 2024, in San Diego. Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP“I actually don’t even remember talking to Roland Emmerich about ‘Fantastic,’ ” the “Titanic” director said. “I remember the other directors that we worked with for months on end trying to develop that project.”
“If I talked to Roland, it was for two minutes,” he continued. “I have a pretty good memory, and I don’t remember that at all.”
Emmerich’s remarks to the packed Comic-Con crowd went viral almost immediately.
“We were in very beginning stages,” Emmerich said of his experience. “Because I said, ‘Gosh, why is he so overbearing?’ I have to say, I do my stuff, and when I can’t do my stuff, I’m totally not interested. As simple as that. So when somebody else wants to say something to me and is more powerful than me, I drop out.”
A scene from the original 1966 film “Fantastic Voyage,” starring Stephen Boyd and Raquel Welch. ©20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection
A scene from the original 1966 film “Fantastic Voyage” ©20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection“Fantastic Voyage” followed a submarine and its crew as they were shrunk and injected into the bloodstream of a scientist after he slipped into a coma because of a blood clot.
The 1966 science fiction film starred Raquel Welch, Donald Pleasence and Stephen Boyd.
Other directors Cameron spoke to about directing the remake included Guillermo Del Toro, Paul Greengrass and Shawn Levy.
According to Cameron, fans shouldn’t expect to see his version of “Fantastic Voyage” anytime soon. “Move on, that’s a non-story,” he told the Hollywood Reporter when asked if the project was still in the works.






