James Cameron has debunked a popular “Titanic” theory, that Jack could have lived had Rose just made some room on the floating door.
“Here’s the answer: it says in the script on page 147, Jack dies,” Cameron told “The View” cohosts on Thursday. “So maybe we made the door a little too big when we made the movie, but Jack’s always going to die, folks! There’s no other version of reality.”
The “Avatar” director also commented on a popular theory that a coal bunker fire actually led to the sinking of the famous ship — not just an ice berg as has been speculated throughout history.
“We studied it 20 years ago, when we were making the film, and we did all the forensic analysis on the coal bunker fire which was well-known and well-described,” he said. “It was not responsible for sinking the ship — they hit an iceberg, head on, that’s what sank the ship. They were going too fast, they were too arrogant. ”
In fact, the filmmaker claims, the coal bunker fire probably saved hundreds of lives — a factor he wants to explore in a documentary timed to the film’s 20th anniversary.
“The coal bunker fire probably saved lives because Titanic sank straight down, it didn’t roll on its side,” Cameron added. “If it had rolled on its side, they would’ve never been able to launch the lifeboats. And it has to do with the coal bunker fire and the way they moved and rebalanced the coal internally to put it out.
The ship sank in the early morning of April 15, 1912 after colliding with an iceberg during its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City. More than 1,500 people died. The film “Titanic” starred Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet and was released in 1997. It is the second highest-grossing movie of all time, behind Cameron’s own “Avatar.”
Last year, Winslet admitted to Jimmy Kimmel that “I think he could have actually fitted on that bit of door.” However, Cameron had previously debunked a “MythBusters” theory that the door would’ve saved both their lives.
“They’re fun guys and I loved doing that show with them, but they’re full of s—,” Cameron had said.
Watch the video above.