‘The Devils’: James Cameron Talks About The Action Horror Project He Has In Development: “It’s Nuts”

James Cameron has three more “Avatar” films to release before he directs anything else, but he has two options there: “Ghosts Of Hiroshima“ and “The Devils,” based on Joe Abercrombie‘s book of the same name. Cameron announced in June that he acquired the rights to Abercrombie’s book via his Lightstorm Entertainment banner.  Now, IndieWire reports (via Empire), he’s explained why he wants to make “The Devils”: in a phrase, it’ll be fun.

READ MORE: ‘The Devils’: James Cameron Lining Up Horrific Fantasy Film With A Special Forces Team Of Monsters

“I was literally reading parts of the book out loud to my wife, Suzy,” the “Avatar” director told Empire. “And it dawned on me: ‘I like this book so much, I should just buy it.’” A high-octane horror-action fantasy, “The Devils” focuses on a group of special forces monsters assembled to help save Europe from the threat of flesh-eating elves. “The whole thing is off its tits.  It’s nuts,” Cameron said of the book. It sounds that way, and a much different project than anything else he’s ever done.

And Cameron is aware of that fact, but that’s why he wants to make “The Devils” so badly. “It doesn’t have the kind of conscience that “Avatar” does, but I don’t think if that’s a bad thing,” he continued.  [“Hiroshima”] is a movie you do because you have to. “The Devils” is a movie you do for fun.” Right: flesh-eating elves is on the opposite end of the “light-hearted fun” spectrum from “Ghosts Of Hiroshima,” about the atomic bomb droppings at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, told from the Japanese perspective.  But then, neither project truly feels like one James Cameron would take on, although it’s hard to remember the last time he did anything besides an “Avatar” film.

And “Avatar” still holds sway over Cameron creatively, at least until 2031, when “Avatar 5” his theaters comes out.  Will he even want to make “The Devils” or “Ghosts Of Hiroshima” by that point? Maybe, if development on the projects goes well. Of course, there’s been talk of Cameron handing over directing duties to someone else for “Avatar 5,” but we’ll believe that when it happens. For now, let’s assume “The Devils” will have to wait until next decade to get made, unless Cameron passes it off to someone else, like he did with “Alita: Battle Angel” and Robert Rodriguez.

Read more about Cameron’s “The Devils” here. As for “Avatar: Fire And Ash“?  It hits theaters and IMAX on December 19.

Ned Booth

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