Tim Burton is not interested in collaborating with Disney again due to a terrible experience on “Dumbo,” as well as some concerns with the Marvel universe.
The renowned Hollywood filmmaker made the words this weekend at the Lumière Festival in Lyon, France.
Burton spoke on the company’s present focus on the Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar brands, none of which he wants to work on.
“It’s gotten to be very homogenized, very consolidated. There’s less room for different types of things,” the 64-year-old director explained.
When asked if he would ever attempt directing a Marvel film, the creator of “Edward Scissorhands” responded no. “I can only deal with one universe, l can’t deal with a multi-universe,” Burton explained.
The filmmaker also informed the audience that he had a long history with Disney, beginning with his time as an animator there decades ago. He described being “hired and fired” multiple times and cited his participation on the Disney film “Dumbo” as a major factor in his decision to part ways.
“My history is that I started out there. I was hired and fired, like, several times throughout my career there,” Burton said.
“The thing about ‘Dumbo’ is that’s why I think my days with Disney are done,” he continued. “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,” Burton said.
Despite his refusal to work with Disney, the fantasy and horror maestro has stated that he is not interested in producing films independently. “Here’s the thing. Independent film, I don’t know. I’ve only worked mainly with studios so I never really understood what an independent film was,” he said.
Burton received the Prix Lumière prize at the festival, which he said “re-energized” him and his career.
“That’s why this festival is so great because it’s purely about cinema, rather than business or awards or anything else,” he said of the prize. “All studio executives should be forced to come here to reinvigorate them. To remind them of why they wanted to make movies in the first place. It should be part of their job.”
Burton was asked about his involvement in the remake of his 1988 classic, “Beetlejuice,” to which he replied, “nothing is out of the question.”
“I only know if I’m making a film when I’m actually on the set shooting. I try to go back to the root of everything. It springs from a seed and then it grows, rather than out of these statements,” he said, despite previously denying he had anything to do with it. “I am working on ideas and things but it’s all very early days. We’ll set how it goes. How’s that for a non answer?”