Jon Landau, a Oscar winner Producers who worked closely with the director James Cameron The man who starred in three of the biggest blockbusters of all time, Titanic and two of the Avatar films, has died. He was 63. Read this alsoAvatar 5’s story will be based on Earth, Oona Chaplin will be the new Na’vi leader in the third film: Producer Jon Landau
John’s family announced his death on Saturday. No cause of death was given.
John and James’ partnership earned them three Oscar nominations and the Best Picture award for 1997’s Titanic. Together they created some of the biggest blockbusters in film history, including Avatar and its sequel Avatar: The Way of Water.
James Cameron remembers John
Filmmaker James Cameron remembered “a dear friend and my closest collaborator for 31 years” in a statement. “A part of me has been taken away from me,” James said.
“Her quirky humor, personal charm, legendary generosity and fierce willpower have made her the centerpiece of our Avatar universe for nearly two decades,” he said. “Her legacy is not just the films she made, but the personal example she set — indomitable, caring, inclusive, tireless, insightful and utterly unique,” he added.
More about John’s career
John’s career began in the 1980s as a production manager, and he gradually moved up the ranks, working as co-producer on Honey I Shrunk the Kids and Dick Tracy.
He served as producer on James’ expensive film Titanic, based on the infamous maritime disaster of 1912. The bet was a success: Titanic became the first film to gross $1 billion at the global box-office and won 11 Oscars, including best picture.
“I can’t act, make music and do visual effects, so I guess that’s why I’m producing.” John while accepting the award he said With James.
Their partnership continued, with John becoming the top executive at James’ Lightstorm Entertainment. In 2009 the pair saw Avatar, a sci-fi epic that was filmed and shown in theaters with 3D technology, surpass the box-office success of Titanic. It remains the highest-grossing film of all time.
Its sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water, ranks third on the list.
“Your wisdom and support have shaped so many of us in ways we will be forever grateful for,” Zoe Saldana, star of the Avatar franchise, said in a post. Heartfelt tribute on Instagram“Your legacy will continue to inspire us and guide us on our journey.”
John has been a major player in the Avatar franchise, which saw the release of The Way of Water delayed multiple times. John defended the sequel’s progress and Cameron’s ambitious plans to film multiple sequels simultaneously to continue the franchise.
“A lot has changed, but a lot hasn’t changed,” John told the Associated Press in 2022, a few months before the sequel’s release. “One thing that hasn’t changed is this: Why do people turn to entertainment today? Just like they did when the first ‘Avatar’ was released, they do it to escape, to escape the world we live in.”
“John was a visionary whose extraordinary talent and passion brought some of the most unforgettable stories to life on the big screen. His remarkable contributions to the film industry have left an indelible mark, and he will be greatly missed. He was not only an iconic and successful producer, but also an even better human being and a true force of nature who inspired everyone around him,” Disney Entertainment co-chairman Alan Bergman said in a statement.
Landau was appointed executive vice president of feature films at 20th Century Fox at the age of 29, which led to him overseeing major hits such as “Home Alone” and its sequel, as well as “Mrs. Doubtfire” and “True Lies,” where he first began working closely with Cameron.
Landau also played a key role in bringing the manga adaptation “Alita: Battle Angel” to the big screen in 2019. James supported the project, but his “Avatar” commitments prevented him from directing it. Instead, John completed the film in collaboration with director Robert Rodriguez.
Born in New York on July 23, 1960, John was the son of filmmakers Ellie and Edie Landau. The family moved to Los Angeles in the 1970s, and Landau graduated from the University of Southern California’s film school.
Eddie Landau died in 1993. Eddie Landau was an Oscar-nominated producer of films such as “Long Day’s Journey Into Night,” “Hopscotch” and “The Deadly Game.” died in 2022,
Jon Landau is survived by his wife Julie, who was with him for nearly 40 years, his sons Jamie and Jody, and two sisters and a brother.
