Burton is a long way removed from his glory days as that wiry-haired weirdo who snuck an F-bomb into a PG movie or had Michelle Pfeiffer put a live bird in her mouth. Every so often, though, you can still catch a glimpse of that mischievously macabre artist who gave Roland Emmerich the middle finger by releasing “Mars Attacks!” the same year as “Independence Day” or helmed the spooky season staple that is his sumptuous, blood-splattered Hammer Horror love letter “Sleepy Hollow.” Such was the case with Burton’s last film, the live-action “Dumbo,” which wound up being autobiographical in ways he never expected and even led the filmmaker to swear off working with Disney ever again, calling the studio a “horrible big circus.”
Despite having grown disillusioned with the tentpole world, Burton saw “Beetlejuice 2” as a chance to get back to making films the way he prefers to. He told The Independent:
“That’s why it is hard for me to watch the movies afterwards, because I still feel the emotional whatever of it. I don’t get a release from that. But I do enjoy all the people I’ve worked with. On this last one, ‘Beetlejuice 2,’ I really enjoyed it. 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.”
Burton’s comments echo what Keaton previously said about “Beetlejuice 2” embracing the same handmade aesthetic and improv-heavy approach as the original film. His days as a genuine innovator might be behind him, but could “Beetlejuice 2” kick off a strong third act for Burton? I’d sure love it if it did!
“Beetlejuice 2” is currently scheduled to hit theaters on September 6, 2024.