James Cameron Goes Back Under Water for Sanctum | SPIKE

James Cameron is executive producing a new film that is going to take place mostly or completely under water -- sound familiar? The film, Sanctum, also has another element to it that has become associated with Cameron: it's going to be in 3D.

Though Cameron's not going to be directing this one -- expected to be released at the end of 2010 -- a friend of his, Andrew Wight, who helped pioneer the 3D technology used in Cameron's films Ghosts of the Abyss and Aliens of the Deep, and, like Cameron, has done many deep sea dives, will write the script.

Variety says this about the Wight and his credentials:

The picture, which has a budget of about $30 million, will lense later this year in Australia and has a late 2010 delivery date. The project gained momentum when it secured financing from Wayfare Entertainment. ..."Sanctum" was inspired by Wight's near-death experience of leading a diving expedition miles into a system of underwater caves, then having to find a way out after a freak storm collapsed the entrance.

This sounds like an exciting project, particularly for fans of The Abyss (I know you're out there!), though it's hard not to be a little saddened that Cameron isn't going to helm this one. This is the kind of movie that Cameron's spent most of this decade immersed in, but he's chosen to put all his eggs in the technology basket.

Alister Grierson is going to direct, which will excite everyone who saw his film Kokoda.

Could this be the next Abyss, or is it going to sink without Cameron guiding the camera? We can rest assured that he's going to executive produce. Hopefully that means more than simply collecting 10 percent off the back-end.

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