Tim Burton reveals he considered retiring after directing Michael Keaton movie

Tim Burton reveals he considered retiring after directing Michael Keaton movie

As a devoted admirer of Tim Burton’s enchanting world, I must confess that reading about his emotional journey through filmmaking has left me spellbound. The man who brought us the whimsical darkness of “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and the quirky charm of “Beetlejuice” has been on a rollercoaster ride in Tinseltown, just like Lydia Deetz navigating through her peculiar world.


Tim Burton has revealed that there was a movie that made him want to retire from directing.

During an interview with Variety, the 65-year-old admitted that he considered calling it quits after directing the film Dumbo in 2019. 

He admitted, “To be truthful, following the release of Dumbo, I was genuinely unsure about it.” This movie featured Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, and Colin Farrell in the lead roles.

It seemed likely that was the end of the road for me, perhaps I would’ve retired or taken a different path. However, returning as an animator was out of the question, that phase is behind me now.

The Burbank, California native explained that COVID created a period of ‘flux’ professionally. 

However, things took a turn for the better during workdays in 2022, and the creative revival Beetlejuice experienced in 2024 was exactly what he required.

Tim Burton reveals he considered retiring after directing Michael Keaton movie

He explained, ‘This did reenergize me. Oftentimes, when you get into Hollywood, you try to be responsible to what you’re doing with the budget and everything else but sometimes you might lose yourself a little bit. 

He stated, “This made it clearer to me that following my desires is crucial since everyone stands to gain from it.”

Over time, Burton has been involved in significant films with dark themes such as The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), Corpse Bride (2005), Frankenweenie (2012) and Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (2016).

He is well-known for having directed the 1988 movie “Beetlejuice”. A sequel, titled “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”, is scheduled to release, more than three decades following the initial film’s premiere.

Regarding the resurrected project, he acknowledged that he hadn’t intended to produce a new edition of the cherished comedy-horror movie.

Initially, I hadn’t considered making a sequel – at that point, such discussions weren’t commonplace. However, looking back on it now provided a pleasant experience, as Lydia was a character I had a deep connection with. It was intriguing to explore what might happen to people after 35 years.

He mentioned, “Where does their path lead? Can you describe their voyage? And what transpired with the Deetz family? I found that concept surprisingly straightforward yet deeply moving. This sentiment served as a foundation for the story’s progression,” he concluded.

The director explained that reuniting with cast members and crew after all those years made his ’emotional.’

In a peculiar yet beautiful way, he found himself working alongside individuals he deeply admires – Michael Keaton, Catherine O’Hara, and Winona Ryder. The experience was intense, evoking emotions, yet fresh at the same time with the addition of the new cast members.

As a devoted admirer, I confessed, “To be honest, I’ve steered clear of revisiting the initial installment. Frankly, I wasn’t sure what made it a hit to start with. So, I chose to regard it as an enigma better left unexplored. In true nostalgic fashion, I plunged in headfirst, eager to complete the task swiftly – just like we used to.”

Tim Burton reveals he considered retiring after directing Michael Keaton movie
Tim Burton reveals he considered retiring after directing Michael Keaton movie
Tim Burton reveals he considered retiring after directing Michael Keaton movie
Tim Burton reveals he considered retiring after directing Michael Keaton movie
Tim Burton reveals he considered retiring after directing Michael Keaton movie

Regarding his upcoming projects, the versatile Burton mentioned that he’s keeping a close eye on the box office performance of Beetlejuice, and only then will he consider making new proposals.

The film is slated to drop on September 6. 

Additionally, he made it clear that the public shouldn’t anticipate him creating any further superhero movies following his collaboration with Warner Bros. on Batman and Batman Returns.

Currently, my response is a firm no. However, I always approach situations from multiple angles, so I can’t entirely rule out anything in the future. At present, though, it’s not an area that I find appealing.

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2024-08-23 00:21

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