Over the past nearly two decades, news of a new James Cameron movie typically heralds the arrival of another Avatar film. However, while the self-styled 'King Of The World' in cinema remains dedicated to transporting audiences to the alien realm of Pandora for the foreseeable future (with Avatar: Fire And Ash slated for next Christmas and at least two more sequels in the works), he has recently diversified his portfolio with a fresh and markedly different project. According to Deadline, the visionary behind Aliens and Terminator has secured the rights to Charles Pellegrino's forthcoming historical book, Ghosts Of Hiroshima, and will utilize it, along with Pellegrino's earlier non-fiction work, The Last Train From Hiroshima, as the cornerstone for a single feature film about the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.
Cameron describes the film as an 'uncompromising theatrical experience,' which, pending Avatar production schedules, is expected to commence shooting soon. The narrative will center on the extraordinary true story of a Japanese man who, having survived the Hiroshima bombing, traveled to Nagasaki and miraculously endured a second nuclear explosion. Although specific plot details remain undisclosed, both of Pellegrino's books will serve as a robust factual and emotional foundation, incorporating survivor testimonies and recent advancements in forensic archaeology. Notably, this collaboration marks a reunion for Pellegrino and Cameron, as the author previously served as a science consultant on Titanic and Avatar.
Cameron revealed to Deadline, 'It’s a subject that I’ve wanted to do a film about, that I’ve been wrestling with how to do it, over the years.' He recounts meeting Tsutomu Yamaguchi, a survivor of both bombings, just days before his death, stating, 'He was in the hospital. He was handing the baton of his personal story to us, so I have to do it. I can’t turn away from it.' Cameron's film aims to fulfill a promise to 'pass on his unique and harrowing experience to future generations.'
In light of Christopher Nolan's recent success with Oppenheimer and Denis Villeneuve's announced adaptation of Nuclear War: A Scenario, it will be intriguing to observe how Cameron, whose filmography is replete with imagery evoking the looming threat of nuclear war, infuses his signature blend of grand spectacle and heartfelt storytelling into this timely and enduring subject. While further details about the film are awaited, The Last Train From Hiroshima is currently available for purchase and reading, with Ghosts Of Hiroshima scheduled for release in August 2025.
