Of the many accolades and recognitions he’s received in his 40-plus-year career, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame isn’t one Tim Burton ever expected. But his reaction to the news fits perfectly with the playfully macabre sensibility that has propelled his 20 films to nearly $4.5 billion in worldwide box office grosses and made a household name out of a filmmaker who’s consistently been seen as an outsider.
Michael Keaton on Getting Recognized as Batman and His Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Deal with Tim Burton
"I remember thinking they were tombstones before I even knew what they were," Burton tells Variety. "I grew up in California, where they're all flat tombstones, so I just mistook them for those. But I realized pretty quickly that Desi Arnaz and John Wayne weren't buried under [Hollywood Boulevard]."
With films like “Sleepy Hollow,” “Corpse Bride,” “Dark Shadows” and “Frankenweenie” to his credit, the director knows a thing or two about the living and the dead. Actor Michael Keaton says their introduction in “Beetlejuice” immediately highlighted not only Burton’s idiosyncratic personality but also their creative compatibility. “It wasn’t an easy idea to convey, but his passion and determination were evident,” Keaton recalls. “That creative process, guided by Tim’s vision, was one of the most fun and rewarding experiences I’ve ever had. He’s a visionary who sees the world in a way that’s hard to explain, but brilliant when it all comes together.”
As they reunite for the follow-up, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” Keaton suggests that Burton’s unique perspective as a storyteller has earned him a place in the Hollywood firmament. “It’s a well-deserved recognition of Tim’s unique artistic vision and contributions to the industry,” he says.
