Tim Burton’s evolving journey in the world of cinema
A pioneer in comic book adaptations
Tim Burton, a visionary filmmaker, revolutionized the comic book movie genre with his early works, directing Michael Keaton in both Batman and Batman Returns for Warner Bros. These films set the stage for the modern superhero blockbuster. However, Burton has expressed a lack of interest in returning to the superhero genre in today’s industry, which is heavily focused on long-term continuity and expansive cinematic universes.
“At the moment, I would say no,” Burton shared in a recent interview. “I come at things from different points of view, so I would never say never to anything. But, at the moment, it’s not something I’d be interested in.”
Creative freedom in the early days
Promoting his new sequel Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Burton reminisced about the creative freedom he enjoyed during the production of the original Batman in 1988. The film was shot in England, which allowed for a certain distance from the studio’s influence.
“I was lucky because at that time, the word ‘franchise’ didn’t exist,” Burton explained. “‘Batman’ felt slightly experimental at the time. … It deviated from what the perception [of a superhero movie] might be. So you didn’t hear that kind of studio feedback, and being in England, it was even further removed. We really just got to focus on the film and not really think about those things that now they think about even before you do it.”
The allure of iconic villains
Initially, Burton had no significant interest in pursuing a sequel to Batman. However, he was eventually drawn to the characters of the Penguin and Catwoman, which reignited his passion for the project. This led to the creation of Batman Returns in 1992, featuring Danny DeVito and Michelle Pfeiffer as the iconic villains.
“I got reenergized by the whole thing,” Burton said. “And that was when we started hearing the word franchise and where the studio started going, ‘What’s the black stuff coming out of the Penguin’s mouth?’ It was the first time the cold wind of that kind of thing came upon me.”
A missed opportunity with Superman
Beyond the Batman franchise, Burton was once developing a Superman film with Nicolas Cage set to star. Although this project never materialized, last year’s DC Comics feature The Flash paid homage to it by featuring a CGI version of Cage fighting a giant spider in a multiverse-traversing sequence.
Reflecting on this unrealized project, Burton noted, “There’s always this ‘Jason and the Argonauts’-style journey that everyone goes through to get a movie made. I’ve worked on a couple movies that didn’t happen after working for years on them, and those are quite traumatic. I just try to focus on things that I feel strongly about and get rid of all the noise surrounding them.”
The future of Tim Burton
Burton’s 20th feature film, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, is set to hit theaters on September 6. This sequel promises to bring back the quirky charm and dark humor that fans loved in the original. As Burton continues to explore new creative avenues, his unique vision and storytelling prowess remain as influential as ever.
For cinema enthusiasts, Burton’s journey offers a fascinating glimpse into the evolution of the film industry and the challenges faced by visionary directors. His ability to balance artistic integrity with commercial success serves as an inspiration for aspiring filmmakers and a reminder of the importance of creative freedom in the world of cinema.