The sci-fi world is buzzing about a longtime dream: a remake of the 1966 classic Fantastic Voyage. James Cameron, a filmmaker known for big franchises like Terminator and Avatar, says he’s still pursuing a new version of the film that never came to be. He hints that 2026 could mark a start date for the project, as he continues to juggle Avatar and other ventures with a focus on keeping the blockbuster series alive.
Cameron’s latest remarks came during a lengthy Deadline Behind the Lens interview. He spoke about Avatar 4 and 5, noting that while profits are possible, the effort is huge and not guaranteed. “If we get so lucky to do that [Avatar 4 and 5]. I always say ‘if,’ because it’s not a given. We spend a lot of money, and we’ll probably make a lot of money, but will it be enough to be profitable?”
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When the conversation turned to 20th Century Studios and its Fox-era evolution, Cameron weighed in on Fantastic Voyage. He referenced other classics like Planet of the Apes and Journey to the Center of the Earth, then pivoted to his plan for a remake: “Fantastic Voyage. I’ve been nurturing that for a while. I hope to get that going this coming year. I’ll be producing it, and I’m working with a director right now on a new script. So, yeah, we’re gonna do it.”
Inside the talks, Cameron’s remarks align with past conversations about a Fantastic Voyage project once eyed by David S. Goyer and Guillermo del Toro. In a Forbes interview earlier this year, Goyer recalled prep work on the project before shifts in studio plans. He said: “Guillermo’s a good friend. We’ve worked on about five or six projects together. We were in prep on Fantastic Voyage, and it was very close. A production designer was on and all of the above. While we were in prep for that, Guillermo said, ‘I’ve got this deal with Searchlight’ and ‘Do you have any scripts that could be made for $20 million?’ and I gave him a script called Antlers that we produced together.”
Goyer also reflected on past momentum, noting that the project “got derailed with the – then regime at Fox, but God, it was a good one.” He added that his experience collaborating with Cameron on Batman Begins-related work helped shape later projects, including Terminator: Dark Fate. Looking ahead, Goyer said he hoped for a future moment when Fantastic Voyage could be revived and also mentioned another unproduced Star Wars script written with del Toro that might someday see the light.
As Cameron continues to weigh his options, fans are left wondering: will Fantastic Voyage be brought back to life in 2026, and how would the new version fit into today’s film landscape? The answer, at least for now, depends on timing, scripts, and continued interest from a studio eager to capitalize on a beloved sci-fi premise.
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