Tim Burton Explains Why He Won’t Make More Sequels to His Movies After Beetlejuice 2

As a long-time admirer of Tim Burton’s whimsical and enchanting cinematic universe, I find myself both excited and saddened by his recent statements regarding potential sequels to some of his most cherished films.

36 years after the initial release of “Beetlejuice”, Tim Burton, now 66, brought forth a sequel that earned an impressive $450 million at the worldwide box office. However, Burton has no plans to revisit two movies that have moved on to the next realm: “Edward Scissorhands” from 1990, which Burton directed following his hit film “Batman”, and “The Nightmare Before Christmas” from 1993, a stop-motion film by Henry Selick that was initially conceived by Burton during his tenure as a Disney animator.

Despite Burton anticipating another project with Depp, it’s not going to be a follow-up to Edward Scissorhands. Following their collaboration on Edward Scissorhands, Depp starred in Burton’s Ed Wood, Sleepy Hollow, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Corpse Bride, Sweeney Todd, Alice in Wonderland, and 2012’s Dark Shadows. However, it won’t be a sequel to this particular film.

Tim Burton stated during a Q&A in Marrakech, as reported by IndieWire, that he has no desire to create sequels for movies like “Edward Scissorhands” and “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” He feels that these films were unique, one-of-a-kind stories, and should be left as they are.

Despite Burton not explicitly stating it, it’s widely known that both films – Alice in Wonderland and Dumbo – are produced by Disney, as Burton directed these live-action productions for the studio. However, following some negative comments about the process of making Dumbo, he has expressed his doubts about returning to Disney, likening the experience to working in a circus.

In the years since “Dumbo” in 2019, Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” marked a significant return for him. This was his first film sequel since “Batman Returns” in 1992. Initially planned as a streaming release, “Beetlejuice 2” ended up being a successful theatrical release instead, following a series of summer box office disappointments such as “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga”, “The Watchers”, and “Horizon: An America Saga – Chapter 1”. Tim Burton’s next project is tentatively set to be a remake of the 1958 B-movie “Attack of the 50 Foot Woman”.

“One thing I learned very early on is until I’m actually on a set doing something, I don’t know if I’m doing it,” he told IndieWire. “I never like to talk about things too much. I’ve worked on so many projects, sometimes they happen, sometimes they don’t happen, so I don’t want to jinx anything. I mean, I was doing [Superman Lives] once. There was another project that I worked for a year on, and it didn’t happen. It’s quite traumatic, it’s quite emotional.”

Despite Burton’s persistent refusal to allow Disney to create a The Nightmare Before Christmas sequel, the tale of this beloved Halloween and Christmas classic has persisted through novels and comics.

In 2023, Tim Burton expressed his reluctance about potential sequels or reboots for “The Nightmare Before Christmas” by stating, “I’ve done sequels, I’ve done various projects, I’ve done reboots – you get the idea. I don’t want that to happen to [The Nightmare Before Christmas]. It’s great that people might be interested, but I’m not.” He compared himself to an old man who refuses to sell his land to a large power plant that wants to take it.

As a dedicated fan, I’m eagerly hoping that Tim Burton might consider making a “Beetlejuice 3.” Though he playfully hinted that he would be well beyond the century mark by the time another sequel gets the go-ahead, it’s exciting to know that the possibility is there. Tommy Harper, producer of “Beetlejuice” and executive producer for the Tim Burton-directed “Wednesday” series, has confirmed that the door is open for a potential return of “Beetlejuice.” However, whether or not it will materialize under Burton’s direction remains to be seen.

2024-12-02 21:41

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