While Hollywood continues to expand with a growing number of emerging directors, James Cameron remains one of the most prominent icons in cinema. Despite having crafted only nine feature films to date, each of his productions has made a significant impact on cinema history, and it’s certain that his future work will continue to do so.
Though he isn’t known for signing for multiple projects at once, his dedication to the “Avatar” franchise is clear. After the first installment’s success in 2009, he released the second part over a decade later, in 2022. But that’s not all.
According to his IMDb schedule, Cameron is set to release “Avatar: Fire and Ash” in 2025, “Avatar 4” in 2029, and “Avatar 5” in 2031. While the filmmaker has his hands full with these titles, he has now announced a new endeavor that promises to captivate audiences worldwide.
All about ‘Last Train From Hiroshima’, James Cameron’s next project
According to Deadline, James Cameron has acquired the rights to Charles Pellegrino’s forthcoming book “Ghosts of Hiroshima,” set for publication in August 2025. He also plans to adapt Pellegrino’s 2015 work “The Last Train from Hiroshima: The Survivors Look Back” into a film that mixes both titles. Cameron will tackle this project whenever there is free time between his many “Avatar” commitments.
James Cameron speaks during the Hand and Footprint Cement Ceremony At TCL Chinese Theatre on January 12, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Source: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
This will be his first non-related “Avatar” picture since “Titanic,” making it a highly anticipated event. The production will be mostly centered in the true story of Tsutomu Yamaguchi, a Japanese man who survived both the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki at ground zero. Cameron shared his deep connection to the idea, revealing 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 stated. “I met Tsutomu Yamaguchi, a survivor of both Hiroshima and Nagasaki, just days before he died. 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.”
Pellegrino’s 2015 book, which brought global attention to the events of August 1945, delves into the impact of the nuclear explosions on Japan and the world. It features first-hand accounts from survivors and American flyers. Yamaguchi’s story is central to both the text and the upcoming movie.
The title’s release is likely not to occur until at least 2027, given that “Ghosts of Hiroshima” will need to be published first and Cameron is known for his meticulous approach to filmmaking. If he begins work on this project only after completing his “Avatar” works, we might not see it until 2032. We’ll provide updates as more information becomes available!
