Michael Keaton and Tim Burton have been long-time collaborators, beginning in 1988 with Beetlejuice, leading right into the 1989 hit Batman, then its sequel, Batman Returns (1992).
They reunited with Disney’s 2019 live-action remake, Dumbo, and we are about to see their latest collaboration with the sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, in theatres next weekend.
Keaton only has wonderful things to say about the director, but he feels that he didn’t reach his potential in one of their films, and he fears he let Burton down.
During a recent interview with the pair, Keaton shared with The New York Times that he regrets his performance in Dumbo. The Oscar nominee played a greedy amusement park owner in the film opposite a cast that included Colin Farrell, Eva Green and Danny DeVito.
The film earned mixed reviews from critics and was seen as a financial disappointment for Disney with just over $350 million at the worldwide box office.
“I love working with Tim so much, but I don’t think we ever really analyzed why we work pretty well together; we just do,” Keaton told The Times. “I think I let him down on one movie, but that’s just me, and it bugs me to this day. I was clueless on ‘Dumbo.’ I sucked in ‘Dumbo.’”
Burton joined Keaton in The Times interview and butted in to say: “I don’t even know what you’re talking about, but whatever.”
Neither actor nor director have been shy about voicing their disappointment in how the film turned out. Keaton was sure to make clear that he wouldn’t be back to do another project with Disney in the future, and it wouldn’t surprise anyone if Burton felt the same.
I didn’t think Dumbo was the worst Disney movie, or even the worst live-action remake, but it was the weakest of the Keaton/Burton films for sure.
