Tim Burton 'Honestly' Considered Retirement After Making 2019'sDumbo: 'That Could Have Been It'

Mar. 15, 2025

Tim Burton on May 20, 2023.Photo:Julien Hekimian/Getty Images

Julien Hekimian/Getty Images

Tim Burtonconsidered quitting filmmaking before his Netflix seriesWednesdayand upcomingBeetlejuice Beetlejuicerebounded his passion.While the director spoke withVarietyregarding the news that he will receive a star on theHollywood Walk of FameSept. 3, Burton, 65, admitted he found himself at a crossroads after he directed Disney’s 2019 live-action reimagining ofDumbo.“Honestly, afterDumboI 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,” he said with a laugh, noting that bothWednesdayand theBeetlejuicesequel “did reenergize me.““Oftentimes, when you get into Hollywood, you try to be responsible to what you’re doing with the budget and everything else but sometimes you might lose yourself a little bit,” he added. “This reinforced the feeling for me that it’s important that I do what I want to do, because then everybody will benefit.““Dumbo” (2019).Disney Enterprises, Inc.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Beetlejuice Beetlejuicefeatures Burton partnering again withWednesdaystarJenna Ortega; she plays the daughter ofWinona Ryder’sBeetlejuicecharacter Lydia Deetz in the new film, which comes some 36 after the original.Michael Keatonreprises his titular role alongsideCatherine O’Haraand Ryder, 52, who also return for the sequel.Justin Theroux,Monica BellucciandWillem Dafoeare among the new film’s supporting cast.“I’m far away in a land where there’s no people around, so no one knocks on my door,” Burton toldVariety, when asked whether he is still sought out for work in Hollywood. “But I’ve been through enough of this before. I rememberBatmanwasn’t really given the green light until afterBeetlejuicecame out. So, much as they say ‘We love you,’ we’ll see how much they love you later on.“Tim Burton on Oct. 10, 2023.Stefano Guidi/Getty ImagesThe five years betweenDumbo’s release andBeetlejuice Beetlejuicemark a lengthy amount of time between films for Burton, who has consistently worked since debuting his first feature film,Peewee’s Big Adventure, in 1985.“It felt like there was a change around the time of COVID where everything was just in flux,” he told the outlet of the break. “And so, rather than get caught up in that, I just worked on my own feelings and things. ThenWednesdaycame along. That reconnected me to making things.“Beetlejuice Beetlejuicemakes its world premiere Aug. 28 at theVenice Film Festivalbefore hitting theaters Sept. 6.

Tim Burtonconsidered quitting filmmaking before his Netflix seriesWednesdayand upcomingBeetlejuice Beetlejuicerebounded his passion.

While the director spoke withVarietyregarding the news that he will receive a star on theHollywood Walk of FameSept. 3, Burton, 65, admitted he found himself at a crossroads after he directed Disney’s 2019 live-action reimagining ofDumbo.

“Honestly, afterDumboI 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,” he said with a laugh, noting that bothWednesdayand theBeetlejuicesequel “did reenergize me.”

“Oftentimes, when you get into Hollywood, you try to be responsible to what you’re doing with the budget and everything else but sometimes you might lose yourself a little bit,” he added. “This reinforced the feeling for me that it’s important that I do what I want to do, because then everybody will benefit.”

“Dumbo” (2019).Disney Enterprises, Inc.

Disney Enterprises, Inc.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuicefeatures Burton partnering again withWednesdaystarJenna Ortega; she plays the daughter ofWinona Ryder’sBeetlejuicecharacter Lydia Deetz in the new film, which comes some 36 after the original.

Michael Keatonreprises his titular role alongsideCatherine O’Haraand Ryder, 52, who also return for the sequel.Justin Theroux,Monica BellucciandWillem Dafoeare among the new film’s supporting cast.

“I’m far away in a land where there’s no people around, so no one knocks on my door,” Burton toldVariety, when asked whether he is still sought out for work in Hollywood. “But I’ve been through enough of this before. I rememberBatmanwasn’t really given the green light until afterBeetlejuicecame out. So, much as they say ‘We love you,’ we’ll see how much they love you later on.”

Tim Burton on Oct. 10, 2023.Stefano Guidi/Getty Images

Stefano Guidi/Getty Images

The five years betweenDumbo’s release andBeetlejuice Beetlejuicemark a lengthy amount of time between films for Burton, who has consistently worked since debuting his first feature film,Peewee’s Big Adventure, in 1985.

“It felt like there was a change around the time of COVID where everything was just in flux,” he told the outlet of the break. “And so, rather than get caught up in that, I just worked on my own feelings and things. ThenWednesdaycame along. That reconnected me to making things.”

Beetlejuice Beetlejuicemakes its world premiere Aug. 28 at theVenice Film Festivalbefore hitting theaters Sept. 6.

source: people.com