Cameron Used 3D to Show Us Pandora — Now He’s Using It Somewhere I Never Expected

James Cameron’s Ghosts of Hiroshima has been mentioned before — a film about one of the greatest human tragedies of the 20th century. But only recently did I learn he plans to shoot it in 3D. That creative choice immediately caught my attention — and raised more questions than answers.

After nearly three decades spent on Pandora, Cameron is stepping away — if only briefly — to direct a film based on Charles Pellegrino’s book about the Hiroshima bombing. This will be his first non-Avatar feature since Titanic.

What makes the project even more personal is Cameron’s connection to Tsutomu Yamaguchi, the only officially recognised survivor of both the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings. Cameron promised him he’d tell this story. Now he’s making good on that promise.

The plan is to film between Avatar 3 (due in 2025) and Avatar 4 (2029). Though the script isn’t written, Cameron has called it "the most challenging film" he’s ever attempted — and admitted, "I’m actually afraid of this movie in a way." That says something, doesn’t it?

Now, this is where it gets even more unexpected. Cameron, ever the technological pioneer, plans to shoot the film in 3D. At first, I’ll admit, this detail gave me pause. 3D is typically tied to epic spectacle — fantasy, sci-fi, explosive blockbusters. But Cameron insists it’s about bearing witness — not spectacle. He wants viewers to "see what it was like" and feel like they're truly there.

Can 3D bring us closer to that kind of history, or is it too much? Will it honour the subject, or feel intrusive? I genuinely hope Cameron can strike the right balance — and tell this story with care, not just craft.