For “2012,” Emmerich set his sites on destroying the some biggest landmarks around the world, from Rome to Rio. But there’s one place that Emmerich wanted to demolish but didn’t: the Kaaba, the cube-shaped structure located in the center of Mecca. It’s the focus of prayers and the site of the Hajj, the biggest, most important pilgrimage in Islam.
“Well, I wanted to do that, I have to admit,” the filmmaker told scifiwire.com. “But my co-writer Harald [Kloser] said, ‘I will not have a fatwa on my head because of a movie.’ And he was right.”
Well, at least he’s honest about his cowardice. Of course he has no problem wiping out Bethlehem, Jerusalem, or any other holy spots. I guess the fact that other religions won’t shoot you on the street or lop your head off or crucify you probably makes them more desirable targets anyway!