Michael Keaton Admits He Let Tim Burton Down in His Dumbo Performance

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice opens in theaters next week, marking the return of Michael Keaton teaming up with filmmaker Tim Burton. This reunion is highly anticipated by fans, as these two have collaborated on several iconic projects over their careers. However, when reflecting on his past work with Burton, there is one project that Keaton feels he fell short on.

In a recent conversation with The New York Times (via Deadline), Keaton expressed his feelings about his past performances with Burton. While he greatly enjoys working with Burton and feels they have a good working relationship, he revealed that 2019’s Dumbo still bothers him.

“I love working with Tim so much, but I don’t think we ever really analyzed why we work pretty well together; we just do,” Keaton shared. “I think I let him down on one movie, but that’s just me, and it bugs me to this day. I was clueless on Dumbo. I sucked in Dumbo.”

Burton, who was also part of the discussion, disagreed with Keaton’s self-assessment. “I don’t even know what you’re talking about,” Burton responded. “But whatever.”

In the 2019 live-action Dumbo, Keaton played the role of V.A. Vandevere, a greedy amusement park owner who aims to exploit Dumbo by purchasing a circus. The movie starred notable actors like Colin Farrell, Eva Green, and Danny DeVito. Despite the star-studded cast, the film received mixed reviews from critics and only managed to earn a bit over $350 million globally, not making a significant mark for Disney.

Burton himself has previously stated that he believed Dumbo would be his last project with Disney. In 2022, he commented on his experiences while making the film: “I started out there. I was hired, and fired several times throughout my career there. The thing about Dumbo is that’s why I think my days with Disney are done. I realized that I was Dumbo, that I was working in this horrible big circus and I needed to escape. That movie is quite autobiographical at a certain level.”

While the memory of Dumbo lingers in Keaton’s mind, he feels more optimistic about his latest project with Burton, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. He previously told GamesRadar that the sequel has a stronger story compared to the original. “There’s things in here that I wasn’t ready for, that are beyond delightful. Instead of saying, ‘I can’t wait until this thing shows up,’ or, ‘I just want this thing called Beetlejuice to go nuts,'” shared Keaton.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice centers on the Deetz family returning to their Winter River home following the unexpected death of Charles Deetz. Lydia’s life takes a dramatic turn when her rebellious teenage daughter, Astrid, discovers a mysterious model of the town in the attic. This model opens a portal to the Afterlife, inadvertently releasing Betelgeuse.

Directed by Tim Burton, the cast of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice includes Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci, Jenna Ortega, and Willem Dafoe. Fans can catch this highly awaited movie exclusively in theaters starting Friday, September 6th.

Source: The New York Times, Deadline, GamesRadar