Tim Burton Talks Michael Keaton’s Big Comeback and His ‘Exuberant’ ‘Beetlejuice’ Performance

With almost 40 years since Michael Keaton took on one of his most iconic roles, Tim Burton has decided to revive the character of Beetlejuice in the sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (76%) . The surprise has not only been for the fans, but also for the director himself, who admitted to having questioned whether he should retire from filmmaking.

In a recent interview with ‘Collider,’ Burton spoke about Keaton’s performance and the magic behind the ghostly character’s return. He also discussed why the sequel couldn’t be made sooner and his thoughts on future sequels to his films.

What did Tim Burton say about Michael Keaton’s portrayal of Beetlejuice?

Tim Burton shared his impressions of Michael Keaton’s performance in the new project, highlighting the unique energy the actor brought to the set. “We didn’t rehearse, we didn’t do anything,” Burton said. “So when he came in, it was like a demonic possession. It was like a time warp; it was exciting and disturbing at the same time.” According to Burton, the essence of Beetlejuice lies in this unpredictability and Keaton’s ability to play the character with an almost mythical freshness.

The director explained that the film was shot with a focus on practical effects and real sets, in the spirit of the first installment. For him, improvisation and working creatively on set is an essential part of the magic of making movies, something that Keaton embodied perfectly when reviving Beetlejuice. “We didn’t think about the sequel or a franchise, we just wanted to make the movie and seeing Michael return to the character was amazing and crucial.”

Could a ‘Beetlejuice’ sequel have happened sooner?

Although a Beetlejuice sequel seemed inevitable given the popularity of the character, Tim Burton revealed that it wasn’t possible until now due to a number of personal and creative reasons. “It’s been on the cards since the beginning, but nothing clicked,” Burton said. “It really couldn’t have happened until now.” It was only recently that Burton felt the time was right to explore what happened to Lydia Deetz, played by Winona Ryder, and her relationship with Beetlejuice after more than three decades.

Burton said the idea for the sequel came about as a story about life and death across three generations of the Deetz family. “This became a very personal film for me, like a kind of weird family movie about an even weirder family,” he explained.

This perspective, which explores themes of growing up, aging and complex family relationships, is something Burton feels she was only able to address now, after having experienced life more fully.

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Will there be more sequels to Tim Burton movies?

As for the possibility of future sequels to other iconic Tim Burton films, the director was cagey. “I don’t have a burning desire to do sequels,” he said. After experiencing a “recalibration” of sorts with the Netflix series ‘Wednesday,’ Burton explained that he feels more inclined to explore new projects rather than returning to his previous works.

“I almost stopped making movies after my last one because I wasn’t feeling the studio thing. I didn’t have a burning desire to make the sequel or anything, I just wanted to make this movie.”

Burton also mentioned that while there are always talks of continuing with more sequels, he’s not sure he wants to take on another similar project. “If they told me, I’d probably run in the other direction. This project was the one that captured my interest. Will there be another one? I don’t know. Not right now, because I’m still finishing this one.”

What have been your first impressions of ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’?

‘Beetlejuice’ has been well received by critics, highlighting it as a successful return of Tim Burton to his unique style, where elements of humor, darkness and emotion are mixed. The film is perceived as a tribute to the original work, expanding its universe and characters with a novel and captivating narrative.

Michael Keaton’s return to the iconic role of Beetlejuice has been widely praised, maintaining the same energy and charisma as in the first film. The mother-daughter relationship played by Winona Ryder and Jenna Ortega has been singled out as a standout aspect, adding significant emotional depth to the plot.

The Nerds of Color:

Burton has never been better! ‘Beetlejuice’ is one of my favorite movies this year and worth the 36 year wait! A return to form for Burton that combines the hilarious, macabre and heartfelt with surreal and wonderful imagery, effects and trickery!