Oscar-winning producer Jon Landau has died. The industry veteran passed away on Friday in Los Angeles with his son confirming the death. He passed after a 16-month battle with cancer, and was 63 years old.
In recent years Landau was a major force behind the Avatar franchise. When the production was hit by COVID delays and restrictions out in New Zealand, it was Landau who was giving the answers. Over the years, he has become James Cameron’s go-to guy.
He joined with Cameron after a stint working as an executive for Fox, which included being alongside Cameron for True Lies. He spent four months on location in the Florida Keys with the director.
When Landau decided to leave Fox to return to producing, he he had offers from three directors on the table. Cameron told him about his secret project – code-named Planet Ice. He took up Cameron’s offer and that project turned out to be Titanic (1997), which would go on to be the biggest-grossing movie of all time for over a decade.
Landau’s track record was enviable. He started out as a production manager on films like Michael Mann’s Manhunter and F/X. He was co-producer on Warren Beatty’s Dick Tracy, and on Honey I Shrunk the Kids. While at Fox he oversaw Die Hard 2, The Last of the Mohicans, and Mrs. Doubtfire.
He was the son of famed producer Ely Landau who made such films as The Iceman Cometh, The Pawnbroker, and The Holcroft Covenant.
He co-produced the Solaris remake, Alita: Battle Angel, and all of the Avatar movies alongside Cameron. It was Landau supervised the 100-day construction of Fox Baja Studios for Titanic, the 40-acre oceanfront facility in Rosarito Beach, Mexico. That facility housed huge movie sets, the largest shooting tank in the world, and five soundstages, one about the size of a football field.
In an emotional tribute to his friend and producing partner, James Cameron said:
“You can’t solve the fragility of life itself. I am grateful for every year, every day, every minute we had together. I am grateful for the belief he had in me and what his partnership allowed us to accomplish together. A part of myself has been torn away. But the amazing team he assembled and led still remains, and we will dedicate ourselves to fulfilling Jon’s legacy. Not just the films yet to come, but the love and connection that binds the Avatar and Lightstorm family together.”
He is survived by Julie, his wife of nearly 40 years.