Tim Burton 'Honestly' Considered Retirement After Making 2019's “Dumbo”: 'That Could Have Been It'

The director said his series 'Wednesday' and the 'Beetlejuice' sequel "reinforced the feeling for me that it’s important that I do what I want to do"

Tim Burton considered quitting filmmaking before his Netflix series Wednesday and upcoming Beetlejuice Beetlejuice rebounded his passion.

While the director spoke with Variety regarding the news that he will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Sept. 3, Burton, 65, admitted he found himself at a crossroads after he directed Disney's 2019 live-action reimagining of Dumbo.

"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," he said with a laugh, noting that both Wednesday and the Beetlejuice sequel "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."

Related: Jenna Ortega Reveals Tim Burton Has a 'Jar of Eyeballs' in His House

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Beetlejuice Beetlejuice features Burton partnering again with Wednesday star Jenna Ortega; she plays the daughter of Winona Ryder's Beetlejuice character Lydia Deetz in the new film, which comes some 36 after the original.

Michael Keaton reprises his titular role alongside Catherine O’Hara and Ryder, 52, who also return for the sequel. Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci and Willem Dafoe are 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 told Variety, when asked whether he is still sought out for work in Hollywood. "But I’ve been through enough of this before. I remember Batman wasn’t really given the green light until after Beetlejuice came out. So, much as they say 'We love you,' we’ll see how much they love you later on."

Related: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Full Trailer Teases Callback Dance Scene Between Catherine O'Hara and Jenna Ortega

The five years between Dumbo's release and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice mark 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. Then Wednesday came along. That reconnected me to making things."

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice makes its world premiere Aug. 28 at the Venice Film Festival before hitting theaters Sept. 6.

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