James Cameron’s Heartfelt Farewell to Late Avatar 3 Producer Steals the Show at Premiere

At the Avatar 3 premiere, James Cameron turned the spotlight into a heartfelt memorial for producer Jon Landau, his longtime partner on Avatar and Titanic, who died July 5 last year at 63 after a battle with cancer.

Tough moment at the Dolby Theatre: James Cameron took the stage at the Avatar 3 premiere and kept the spotlight where he felt it belonged — on the people who made it — but he also stopped to honor the one person who should have been up there with them and wasn’t.

Cameron’s tribute to Jon Landau

Surrounded by his cast and crew in Los Angeles, Cameron praised the team, then pointed to the absence of producer Jon Landau, his friend and producing partner for more than 30 years. Landau, who helped steer Titanic and every Avatar film, died last July at 63 after a battle with cancer.

"Jon fought so hard to stay with us and to stay part of the film. His spirit infuses all the Avatar films. When he passed, it was a blow. It was a shock. And it was not lost on us that we were making a film about how humans process their loss and their grief."

Cameron said Landau’s loss pushed the team to step up and deliver at a higher level — the movie they believe Jon would be proud of.

The partnership and the loss

Cameron and Landau had been a creative unit for decades, with Landau essentially acting as the engine room for the Avatar franchise for nearly 20 years. After Landau’s death on July 5, 2024, Cameron told Variety that Landau’s offbeat humor, big personality, generosity, and sheer drive anchored the world of Avatar, and that he wasn’t just a collaborator — he was a dear friend who pushed everyone to bring their best every day. Cameron also called out the warmth and joy Landau brought to the work, which shows in the films on his résumé.

• Where: Dolby Theatre, Los Angeles, during the Avatar 3 premiere
• Who: James Cameron, the Avatar 3 cast and crew
• Honoree: Producer Jon Landau, Cameron’s partner on Titanic and the Avatar films
• Landau’s passing: July 5, 2024, at age 63, from cancer
• What Cameron emphasized: Landau’s spirit is baked into the franchise, and his absence fueled the team to aim higher

For a film series that’s literally about family, loss, and what you carry forward, the timing hits hard. You could feel the dedication in the room.