Tim Burton: He was almost at the end of his career

Director and multi-talent Tim Burton (65) has enchanted his fans over the past decades with works such as “Edward Scissorhands”, “Corpse Bride” and “Alice in Wonderland”. His new film “Beetlejuice” – a sequel to the popular horror comedy “Beetlejuice” from 1988 – will soon be seen on the big screen. But apparently there was a phase in Burton’s life a few years ago when it was uncertain whether he would continue making films at all.

When asked that the five or so years between 2019’s “Dumbo” and “Beetlejuice” were probably the longest time between two of Burton’s films, the cult director remembers the coronavirus pandemic. “I felt like there was a shift at the time of COVID-19 where everything was just changing,” says Burton. “Instead of getting carried away by it, I just worked on my own feelings and things.”

Tim Burton thought, “that could have been it”

But then there was this project – the successful Netflix series “Wednesday”, which he also directed. And so the now 65-year-old found his way back to creative work.

To be honest, after “Dumbo” he didn’t know if he wanted to continue working. “I thought that might have been it, really,” says Burton. “I could have retired, or I could have… well, I wouldn’t have gone back to being an animator, that’s over,” he recalls with a laugh, adding: “But it gave me new energy.” Often in Hollywood, you try to be responsible with budgets and other things, but sometimes you can get a little lost in the process. It reinforced his “feeling that it’s important that I do what I want to do, because then everyone benefits.”

“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” will celebrate its world premiere on August 28th and will open the 81st Venice International Film Festival. The horror comedy sequel will be released in German cinemas on September 12th. The film stars “Wednesday” lead actress Jenna Ortega (21), Winona Ryder (52) and Michael Keaton (72), among others.