Cameron's Secret Role in Del Toro Family Crisis Revealed
The acclaimed filmmaker opens up about a harrowing 72-day ordeal that tested family bonds and Hollywood friendships in ways no one could imagine.
The bond between two of Hollywood's most visionary directors runs deeper than most people realize. Guillermo del Toro recently disclosed how James Cameron stepped in during one of the darkest chapters of his life when his father Federico became the target of kidnappers in Guadalajara nearly three decades ago.
Speaking on the Hollywood Reporter's 'Awards Chatter' podcast, del Toro described their relationship in simple terms: "He's my brother, we are that close and I love him so dearly." Their friendship began during del Toro's early Hollywood days, around the time Cameron was revolutionizing cinema with Terminator 2: Judgment Day in 1991.
The 72-Day Nightmare
The criminals who took Federico del Toro knew exactly what they were doing. They had researched his 1969 lottery win and crafted their demands accordingly. The ransom demand was brutal in its simplicity: $3 mn in three days, $5 mn in five days, or Federico's head would arrive in a box.
What made the situation more complex was the family's financial reality. Despite Federico's lottery winnings, he had raised his children with blue-collar values. None of them had direct access to the money when the crisis hit.
Del Toro explained how the kidnapping operation functioned like a business franchise, with one person orchestrating multiple abductions simultaneously. When his brother called with the news, del Toro rushed to the family home to help coordinate the response.
Cameron's Intervention
This is where Cameron's friendship proved invaluable. The Titanic director arranged for a professional negotiator from England to assist the del Toro family. Cameron covered the negotiator's expenses but made it clear he wouldn't pay the ransom itself.
The del Toro brothers divided responsibilities for managing the crisis. Guillermo handled the final third of the phone negotiations with the kidnappers. After 72 agonizing days, the family secured Federico's release for $1 mn.
Looking Forward
At the recent Marrakech Film Festival, del Toro shared some unconventional thoughts about mortality, describing himself as "a big fan of death" and viewing it as liberation from life's burdens.
His upcoming projects include a reunion with Oscar Isaac on the thriller Fury, which del Toro describes as "very cruel, very violent." The film represents a return to his grittier, less fantastical work similar to Nightmare Alley. He's also preparing Frankenstein for its October 17, 2025 release, starring Isaac alongside Jacob Elordi.