James Cameron Says He Cut 10 Minutes Of Combat Footage From ‘Avatar: The Way Of Water’ Because He Did Not Want To “Fetishize The Gun”

Quaritch (Stephen Lang) leads the a platoon onto the surface of Pandora in Avatar: The Way of Water (2022), Disney
Quaritch (Stephen Lang) leads the a platoon onto the surface of Pandora in Avatar: The Way of Water (2022), Disney

Following his declarations that testosterone is “a toxin you have to slowly work out of your system” and that depictions of pregnant women voluntarily engaging in non-essential combat was the next step in “female empowerment“, James Cameron has gone for a neoliberalism hat trick by revealing that he cut roughly ten minutes of footage from Avatar: The Way of Water because he did not want to “fetishize the gun”.

The Resources Development Administration sets fire to Pandora in Avatar: The Way of Water (2022), Disney

RELATED: ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ Review – Mo’ Na’vi Mo’ Problems

The eccentric director revealed his newfound aversion to firearms during a recent post-Avatar: The Way of Water premiere interview with Esquire Middle East.

Director James Cameron behind the scenes of 20th Century Studios' AVATAR 2. Photo by Mark Fellman. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Reflecting on his library of work, particularly the first two Terminator entries and his 1994 Arnold Schwarzenegger vehicle True Lies, Cameron told the outlet’s William Mullally, “I look back on some films that I’ve made, and I don’t know if I would want to make that film now.”

“I don’t know if I would want to fetishize the gun, like I did on a couple of Terminator movies 30+ years ago, in our current world,” added the director. “What’s happening with guns in our society turns my stomach.”

Quaritch (Stephen Lang) in 20th Century Studios' AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

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“I’m happy to be living in New Zealand where they just banned all assault rifles two weeks after that horrific mosque shooting a couple of years ago,” Cameron opined, referring to the horrific Christchurch mosque shootings which occurred in 2019.

Lo'ak (Britain Dalton) bonds with Payakan in Avatar: The Way of Water. Directed by James Cameron. © 20th Century Studios

The director then admitted that, in light of his unease, he had “actually cut about 10 minutes of [Avatar: The Way of Water] targeting gunplay action” because he ” wanted to get rid of some of the ugliness, to find a balance between light and dark.”

“You have to have conflict, of course,” said Cameron. “Violence and action are the same thing, depending on how you look at it. This is the dilemma of every action filmmaker, and I’m known as an action filmmaker.”

Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) look on at the aftermath of an RDA attack in Avatar: The Way of Water (2022), Disney via YouTube

RELATED: James Cameron Admits ‘Avatar: The Way Of Water’ Needs To Become “The Third or Fourth Highest-Grossing Film In History” Just To “Break Even”

Notably, Cameron is not the only Hollywood bigwig in recent months to offer their opinions on the sadly hot topic of gun ownership in America.

Earlier this month, Disney CEO Bob Iger told attendees at the Sandy Hook Promise Benefit event that taking steps to prevent gun violence, specifically mass shootings, by enacting stricter gun control “should be among our highest priorities” for Americans.

Stephen Lang as Quaritch in Avatar: The Way of Water. Directed by James Cameron. © 20th Century Studios

“As a grandfather, as a father, as CEO of The Walt Disney Company, I believe there is no greater or more important task than ensuring the safety and well-being of our children,” he told the crowd, which included fellow speakers and prominent Democrats former President Barack Obama and Matthew McConaughey.

“Those of us who are in positions to affect change, whether it’s by influencing laws of shaping culture or supporting organizations on the frontlines, I think we have an extra responsibility,” Iger concluded.

(L-R): Neytiri and Jake Sully in 20th Century Studios' AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Avatar: The Way of Water is now playing in theaters.

Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) in 20th Century Studios' AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

NEXT: James Cameron Says Only Reason Marvel Cinematic Universe Is More Popular Than ‘Avatar’ Is That It Has Received More Films

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