Without a doubt, Tim Burton has solidified his place as one of the most influential directors in cinema history. His distinctive style, blending family-friendly storytelling with a touch of the eerie, has earned him widespread recognition and adoration.
Now, Burton is about to receive a significant honor as he will be awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on September 3. This milestone is especially remarkable considering that, for much of his career, the artist was seen as a filmmaker on the margins.
As he promotes “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” Burton has become a hot topic among media outlets, not just for his upcoming recognition but also for his candid revelation during an interview with Variety—where he shared that he once came close to quitting filmmaking.
Tim Burton confesses he almost thought about leaving the film world
As Burton shared with Variety, the moment he almost quit filmmaking came after completing the 2019 remake of “Dumbo.” Despite its box office success, the movie failed to fully capture Burton’s signature style and was widely criticized as one of the weakest entries in his filmography. Reflecting on that time, the director said:
“Honestly, after Dumbo, I really didn’t know. I thought that could have been it, really. I could have retired, or become… well, I wouldn’t have become an animator again, that’s over.”
Tim Burton in the set of “Dumbo”. (Source: IMDb)
However, Burton clarified that his desire to quit wasn’t due to any lack of connection to the project. Instead, it was the impact of COVID-19 that deeply affected him. Unlike many directors who used the pandemic as a time for creative inspiration, Burton found himself turning inward, reflecting on his own thoughts and feelings about the pandemic and filmmaking, rather than developing new ideas.
But then came “Wednesday,” the Netflix series that rekindled his passion for creating. Filming in Romania became a kind of creative retreat for him, and Burton credits the series with revitalizing him.
Looking ahead, Burton will return to this streaming project, with the second season of “Wednesday” set to release in the latter half of 2025. It seems Jenna Ortega has become a new muse for Burton, and we can likely expect the pair to collaborate on more projects in the future!
