James Cameron says fight of Palestinians is “existential”

• James Cameron described the Palestinian struggle as "existential" while discussing the themes of imperialism and cyclical violence in his new film, Avatar: Fire and Ash, comparing the conflict to crises in Sudan and Ukraine.
• The filmmaker emphasized that "total annihilation" is a righteous reason to fight, linking the fictional resistance of the Na'vi to real-world efforts for peace, such as his work on the documentary There Is Another Way.

In a recent interview, renowned filmmaker James Cameron, director of the Avatar franchise, described the Palestinian plight as "existential" amid discussions of global conflicts.

Speaking on the portrayal of war in his latest film, Avatar: Fire and Ash, Cameron drew parallels between fictional narratives and real-world crises.

The comments were made during a "Director Debrief" interview with journalist Brandon Davis, released shortly after the film's premiere on December 19.

Cameron addressed the ethical complexities of depicting violence in cinema, noting how his storylines reflect ongoing human struggles.

He highlighted the film's exploration of themes such as imperialism, environmental destruction, and cyclical violence, which he linked directly to contemporary events.

In the interview, Cameron stated: "It’s a fine line... killing only leads to more killing, an endless expanding spiral... That’s what we’ve seen. We’ve seen it in Gaza. We’ve seen it in Sudan. We’ve seen it in Ukraine."

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He continued, "There are some fights that are righteous. And total annihilation is a reason to fight. It’s existential."

Cameron's remarks align with the overarching narrative of Avatar: Fire and Ash, where indigenous Na'vi characters confront human colonizers.

The film, the third installment in the saga, delves into grief, loss, and redemption, mirroring what Cameron described as humanity's "greed and willful destruction."

Released amid heightened global tensions, the movie has grossed significant box office returns in its opening weekend.

This is not Cameron's first engagement with Palestinian-‘Israeli’ issues. Earlier in 2025, he served as executive producer for the documentary There Is Another Way, a 67-minute film focusing on Combatants for Peace, a grassroots organization of Palestinians and ‘Israelis’ advocating non-violence following the events of October 7, 2023.