Here's Why You'll Never See Tim Burton Make A Marvel Movie
Long before the Marvel Cinematic Universe took over Hollywood and Zack Snyder gave fans a glimpse of his vision for the DC Extended Universe, director Tim Burton was hard at work on a little film called "Batman." The 1989 feature, in all of its grim, gothic glory, helped egg on the burgeoning trend of big-screen superhero adaptations, introducing audiences to Michael Keaton's now-iconic take on the Dark Knight. Not to mention, the legendary Jack Nicholson had the chance to reinvent the Joker for Burton's twisted flick, going on to be recognized as one of its highlights.
In becoming a cinema and merchandising sensation, it didn't take long for Warner Bros. and Tim Burton to get cooking on a "Batman" sequel, which came to be known as "Batman Returns." With Keaton back in the title role, alongside franchise newcomers Danny DeVito and Michelle Pfeiffer as the Penguin and Catwoman, respectively, the studio had yet another certified hit on their hands. Therefore, given how much success Burton found in the comic book movie genre — helming two of the most beloved Batman-centric movies ever made –, it's hard to believe that he hasn't returned to it now that it has gone mainstream.
Well, if you're waiting for Tim Burton to get his time in the MCU spotlight, we advise you don't hold your breath. Here's why he'll never work under the Marvel Studios banner.
Tim Burton is over the whole superhero thing
In truth, it doesn't seem as though Tim Burton has a particular vendetta toward Marvel Studios or the immense cast of characters that stem from Marvel Comics. His disinterest in returning to the superhero genre is universal, as he told The Toronto Sun (via CinemaBlend) in 2019. "I do feel grateful being there at a time when it felt new. I don't know that I could get that excitement again saying, 'I'm going to go do Squirrel Boy for Marvel,'" Burton said, seemingly confirming that his creative desires lie elsewhere, outside of any comic book world.
Not to mention, toward the end of Tim Burton's love affair with the DC universe, things took a turn for the worse. First and foremost, he was effectively ousted from the "Batman" series following some serious backlash toward "Returns" for its dark tone and not-so-Happy-Meal-friendly nature. Then there was the debacle surrounding "Superman Lives": a Burton-ified take on the Man of Steel mythos that would have seen Nicholas Cage take on the lead role. In short, the project fell to pieces before it could get off the ground, signaling the final nail in the coffin for Burton's superhero days.
As the old saying goes, never say never. If Michael Keaton could return as Batman for 2022's "The Flash," and Nicholas Cage could finally play Superman in 2018's "Teen Titans Go! To The Movies," perhaps someday Tim Burton could be convinced to return to the world of capes and spandex.