10 Actors And Directors Who Absolutely Hated Each Other
3. Ed Harris & James Cameron
Film: The Abyss
James Cameron has a bit of a reputation. Between his exhausting demands and his dictatorial behavior, some of his films are a trial to shoot. The Abyss ranks up there with the worst of them.
The actors endured 70-hour work weeks, and the shoot itself lasted over six months - mind you, all of this took place in a giant tank. Star Ed Harris was reportedly so overwhelmed and beaten down after a day of filming that he broke down sobbing while driving home. According to rumors, he got so frustrated with Cameron's behavior that he threatened to skip out on promoting the movie altogether.
Then, of course, there's the near-drowning incident. During an underwater scene, Harris had to hold his breath. He signaled for a crew member to bring him an oxygen tank, but the crew member got snagged on a cable. Harris began to panic, and he very nearly drowned. What did Cameron do? Well, he kept filming, of course! The panic needed to look real! Afterwards, Harris reportedly punched Cameron in the face.
After filming was complete, Harris disowned the film, stating, "I’m not talking about The Abyss and I never will."