Tim Burton Opens Up With Two Reasons Why He Opted Out Of a Third And Fourth Batman Film

Tim Burton has been back in the spotlight with one film released, and another long awaited sequel seemingly in the works. The director best known for Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands has been earning mixed reviews for his most recent outing called Big Eyes. However, it has been a potential Beetlejuice sequel that has seen the biggest buzz. The Inquisitr reported on all the speculation that seems to be all but confirmed by Tim Burton.

Now, it is not just Beetlejuice that is being spoken about, but Batman. Tim Burton was the first to bring Batman to theaters, but unlike Christopher Nolan, he was cut short of directing a trilogy of films. According to Tim Burton, much of that decision had to do with Warner Bros., Cinema Blend reports.

“It was a weird reaction to Batman Returns, because half the people thought it was lighter than the first one and half the people thought it was darker. I think the studio just thought it was too weird — they wanted to go with something more child- or family- friendly. In other words, they didn’t want me to do another one.”

Sadly, this would eventually spell doom for the popular Batman and Batman Returns films, as director Joel Schumacher took the helm. It is uncertain if it was the director or producers that ultimately lead to many fan disappointing moves, like bat nipples, but the damage would lead to more than a decade before Batman would see the silver screen again.

This particular tidbit has been circling the web for years, but it was another rather intriguing reason he just released that has yet to be shared or spoken about. Comicbook.com reports that McDonald’s might have also played a role, and similar opinion as Warner Bros. In their case, it had to do with the Batman character the Penguin, according to Tim Burton himself.

“I think I upset McDonald’s. [They asked] ‘What’s that black stuff coming out of the Penguin’s mouth. We can’t sell Happy Meals with that!”

The prior explanation had always been well accepted by fans of Tim Burton and Batman, but the latter certainly provides several pauses. For anyone familiar with Batman Returns, they would recall that the “black stuff” had one specific moment in the entire film. In fact, the action figures of the Penguin that have been released to date, do not have the stuff spoken of.

So for whichever reason, all Batman and Tim Burton fans should be able to agree, it would have been better to see a Batman 3 and Batman 4 without Joel Schumacher. Think “Bat nipples.”

What are your thoughts?

Did you miss Tim Burton after Batman Returns, or did you prefer his departure?

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[Images Via Creative Commons/Jasmine Hunter, NerdLikeYou, And DC/Entertainment Earth]