Tim Burton Explains Why He Won’t Direct Another Superhero Film

Tim Burton has shared why he has no interest in directing another superhero film.

The 65-year-old filmmaker is set to release his highly anticipated “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” film this September, featuring Jenna Ortega and Michael Keaton. Burton, renowned for directing “Batman” and “Batman Returns” early in his career, noted the significant changes in the superhero film industry since he collaborated with Keaton in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

In an interview with Variety, Burton explained his current disinterest, stating: “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.”

The “Corpse Bride” director added: “I was lucky because at that time, the word ‘franchise’ didn’t exist. ‘Batman’ felt slightly experimental at the time… It deviated from what the perception [of a superhero movie] might be.”

Burton elaborated on his creative freedom during those projects: “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.”

He recalled agreeing to work on the 1992 “Batman” sequel, “Batman Returns,” because he felt re-energized by its villains, Penguin (Danny DeVito) and Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer). However, he soon lost interest in further superhero films.

“That was when we started hearing the word franchise,” he said. “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.”

Besides “Batman,” Burton had discussions about developing a Superman film starring Nicolas Cage. Though the movie never materialized, “The Flash” referenced the project in 2023 by featuring a CGI version of Cage battling a giant spider.

Looking back on the missed opportunity, Burton mentioned: “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.”

Last year, Burton revealed to The Independent that working on the “Beetlejuice” sequel rekindled his passion for filmmaking.

“On this last one, ‘Beetlejuice 2,’ I really enjoyed it,” he stated. “I tried to strip everything and go back to the basics of working with good people and actors and puppets. It was kind of like going back to why I liked making movies.”