LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: James Cameron, the Oscar-winning director of 'Titanic', is likely to direct a new drama series on the Titan submersible disaster that killed five people last month. A major streaming network has reportedly approached Cameron, who is also an avid submariner and has visited the Titanic wreck 30 times, to direct the series based on the tragic event.
"The Titan disaster is already being looked at as a major series for one of the world's biggest streamers — and James is first choice for director," the source said as per The Sun. "It is a subject close to his heart. He told the story of the Titanic so compassionately it feels like a natural step for him to take this on," the source added.
'Titan is a massive undertaking but there would be a lot of time, money, and resources dedicated to it'
"Retracing the steps of those on board the Titan is a massive undertaking but there would be a lot of time, money, and resources dedicated to it," the source further added. The Titan submersible, operated by OceanGate, was on an expedition to explore the Titanic wreck site when it lost contact with its support vessel on June 18. The crew members on board were Hamish Harding, 58, Shahzada Dawood, 48, and his son Sulaiman Dawood, 19, French Navy pilot Paul-Henry (PH) Nargeolet, and OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush.
The Doomed Titan submersible
They were part of a team of 12 that had planned to spend six weeks diving into the Titanic wreck and conducting scientific research. The Titan was designed to withstand immense pressure at the depth of 3,800 meters where the Titanic lies. Despite a massive search and rescue operation involving multiple agencies and countries, they were confirmed dead after several days of searching. The cause of the accident is still under investigation by OceanGate and the authorities. The tragedy has sparked global interest and could be adapted into a gripping series, with Hollywood stars being eyed as potential cast members.
Who could be the actors?
The publication reported that Matt Damon, who will appear in Christopher Nolan's upcoming film Oppenheimer, and Kumail Nanjiani, who starred in 'The Big Sick', are among the actors on the wish list to play the crew members. Cameron has extensive experience and expertise in deep-sea exploration and filmmaking. He used the Russian Mir submersibles to film the Titanic wreck for his 1997 blockbuster, which won three Oscars, including Best Picture. He also directed documentaries such as 'Ghosts of the Abyss' and 'Aliens of the Deep', which featured his underwater adventures and showcased his passion for marine life and conservation.
