James Cameron’s own experience of fatherhood inspired him to make ‘Alita: Battle Angel’.
The 64-year-old filmmaker – who has daughters Josephine, 25, Claire, 17, Quinn, 15, and Elizabeth, 12 – produced the new cyberpunk action film, and he’s admitted to being inspired by his own real-life experiences.
Speaking at the movie’s world premiere in London’s Leicester Square on Thursday night (31.01.19), James explained: "I fell in love with the character – and we were lucky enough to get Rosa Salazar to play her.
"And I think she just comes off the screen – she’s somebody whose journey you want to go on.
"When I acquired the material, my daughter at the time was seven or eight and I was looking ahead – you know, she was my eldest – I was looking ahead to what it’s going to be like to raise a teenager … a young girl coming into womanhood in this world. You know, it’s stacked against women."
James admitted he was determined to explore the theme of "female empowerment" in ‘Alita: Battle Angel’, which is based on Yukito Kishiro’s manga ‘Gunnm’.
Speaking about the themes of the film – which also stars Christoph Waltz, Ed Skrein and Jennifer Connelly – James told HeyUGuys: "I wanted to do something that was about female empowerment – that was about gaining confidence and gaining strength and finding your place in the world – and that’s what the film is about, ultimately."