Tim Burton Isn’t Interested in Directing Another Superhero Movie: When I Made ‘Batman,’ ‘The Word Franchise Didn’t Exist’

As a long-time aficionado of cinema, I have to say that Tim Burton‘s contributions to the world of comic book adaptations, particularly with his iconic Batman films, are nothing short of legendary. Having grown up watching these movies, I can vividly recall the excitement and wonder they instilled in me.

Tim Burton initially made a mark in Hollywood by directing successful comic book adaptations, specifically “Batman” and “Batman Returns,” starring Michael Keaton. Yet, the movie maker expresses no desire to revisit superhero movies given the modern film industry’s emphasis on ongoing storylines and interconnected cinematic universes.

Currently, Burton expresses his refusal, speaking with EbMaster in a recent interview. However, he emphasizes that he approaches situations from various angles and hence, rules out nothing definitively. At present, though, it’s not an interest of his.

In making his latest sequel “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” the director revealed that he enjoyed significant artistic liberty and experienced minimal studio intervention while filming “Batman” in England back in 1988.

As a cinephile penning my thoughts post-screening, I find myself grateful for the serendipity that ‘franchise’ was yet to be coined during the production of ‘Batman’. The film seemed somewhat pioneering in its approach at the time, veering away from established notions of what a superhero movie should be. Therefore, we didn’t encounter the usual studio feedback that now comes knocking long before the cameras roll. Being based in England further distanced us from such concerns, allowing us to concentrate solely on the film and not dwell on the intricacies that have since become standard practice.

Initially, Burton wasn’t very keen on making a sequel to the first “Batman” movie, but he was captivated by the villains of the Penguin and Catwoman, which led him to change his mind. In 1992, both Burton and Keaton came back for “Batman Returns,” where Danny DeVito and Michelle Pfeiffer portrayed the infamous characters from the comics. However, neither Burton nor Keaton were part of Warner Bros.’ subsequent production “Batman Forever” in 1995. Instead, Joel Schumacher took over as director, and Val Kilmer stepped into the role of Batman for that film.

As a film enthusiast, I found myself reinvigorated by the whole project. That’s when the whispers of ‘franchise’ began, and the studio started questioning details like, “What’s causing the black stuff to come out of the Penguin’s beak?” It was the first time I felt a chilly gust of that sort of inquiry sweep over me.

Apart from his work on the “Batman” series, Tim Burton had also initially planned a “Superman” movie, with Nicolas Cage set to star. Unfortunately, this film never materialized. However, last year’s DC Comics release, “The Flash,” referenced this unmade project by incorporating a computer-generated Nicolas Cage character in a fight scene against a giant spider during a multiverse journey.

Speaking about his unfulfilled Superman project, Burton muses that “making a movie often involves a ‘Jason and the Argonauts’-like odyssey. I’ve been involved with films that didn’t come to fruition after spending years on them, which can be quite distressing. I simply concentrate on things I feel passionate about and eliminate all the distractions surrounding them.”

Burton’s 20th feature film, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” hits theaters on Sept. 6.

2024-08-22 22:46

Tim Burton Isn’t Interested in Directing Another Superhero Movie: When I Made ‘Batman,’ ‘The Word Franchise Didn’t Exist’

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