James Cameron Responds to Famous Director Calling Him 'Overbearing' in New Interview

Mar. 15, 2025

James Cameron in Anaheim, California on August 9, 2024.Photo:Rodin Eckenroth/Getty

Rodin Eckenroth/Getty

James Cameronis responding to fellow filmmakerRoland Emmerich’s criticism that he is “overbearing.”

Cameron, 69, has been trying to remake the 1966 filmFantastic Voyagefor years. Emmerich was attached to direct it but exited in 2007. During a Directors on Directing panel at Comic-Con on July 26, Emmerich, 68, attendees he was working on the “beginning stages” of the sci-fi remake but found Cameron “overbearing," perThe Hollywood Reporter.

“So I, at one point, just gave up," Emmerich, whose own resume includesIndependence DayandWhite House Down, said. “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."

“I’ve never said anything negative about Roland,” Cameron, 69, toldTHRin a separate interviewpublished Monday, August 12.

“Damn right,” he said in response to Emmerich’s “overbearing” claims. “When it’s a project where I’ve contributed to the writing, I might actually have an opinion on it,” he explained. Cameron wrote a draft forFantastic Voyageand remains a producer on the film.

Roland Emmerich in 2022.Joshua Sammer/Getty

Joshua Sammer/Getty

Cameron then noted that he doesn’t remember considering Emmerich for director.

“I actually don’t even remember talking to Roland Emmerich aboutFantastic. I remember the other directors that we worked with for months on end trying to develop that project," Cameron said. “If I talked to Roland, it was for two minutes. I have a pretty good memory and I don’t remember that at all.”

James Cameron on December 6, 2022 in London, England.Joe Maher/Getty

Joe Maher/Getty

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Cameron was asked about the negative response to the recent 4K releases ofAliensandTrue Liesfrom some home video enthusiasts.

“When people start reviewing your grain structure, they need to move out of mom’s basement and meet somebody,” Cameron replied. “Right? I’m serious. I mean, are you f—ing kidding me?”

Finally, Cameron also revealed that he’s working on a “classified"Terminatorproject. He directedThe Terminator(1984) and its blockbuster sequel,Terminator 2: Judgment Day(1991), and was a producer onTerminator: Dark Fate(2019).

source: people.com