The recent 3D re-release of James Cameron’s Titanic has been an enormous success in China, despite controversy over a prudishly deleted scene and some of the ensuing press coverage. The film took $67 million at the Chinese box office in its opening weekend, almost four times as much as in the US. Now, an Australian mining tycoon has announced plans for a full-scale replica of the ship, to be built in a state-owned Nanjing shipyard and possibly escorted by Chinese naval vessels. From AFP:
“It will be every bit as luxurious as the original Titanic but of course it will have state-of-the-art 21st century technology and the latest navigation and safety systems,” [Clive] Palmer said in a statement.
“Titanic II will sail in the northern hemisphere and her maiden voyage from England to North America is scheduled for late 2016.”
He added that he had invited the Chinese navy to escort the Titanic II to New York ….
His decision to commission a Chinese shipbuilding yard, which will also construct other luxury liners for the tycoon, reinforces his ties to the country, which is a key buyer of his coal and iron ore.
Palmer acknowledged that the venture might seem to be tempting fate, displaying none of the hubris unfairly associated with the original. From CNN:
“Of course, it will sink if you put a hole in it,” Palmer said at a press conference. “It is going to be designed so it won’t sink. But, of course, if you are superstitious like you are, you never know what could happen.”
Cameron told The Hollywood Reporter at the Beijing International Film Festival last week that he was “having some Avatar 2 and 3 Chinese co-production discussions“; if history does tragically repeat itself, Titanic 2 (The Movie) might be made in China as well.
