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Even though Michael Keaton played the most well-known Batman (1989) of all time, few people recognized his talent before he made his screen debut. He was not typically the actor that directors would have cast as Bruce Wayne in the late 1980s because he was more famous for his work in comedies. Needless to say, many people at the time were shocked to hear that Tim Burton had chosen Keaton as a superhero inBatman(1989).
Prior toBatman, Keaton and Burton worked together on the fantasy horror comedy movieBeetlejuice(1988). Now, the upcomingBeetlejuice 2is nearly complete, and production will resume as soon as the Hollywood strike is over. However, the actor was reportedly reluctant to reprise his role as the titular Beetlejuice by the timeBeetlejuice 2started to gain some real traction.
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Michael Keaton Was Hesitant To Reprise His Role In Tim Burton’sBeetlejuiceSequel?
Michael Keatongave one of the most outstanding and memorable performances of his career inBeetlejuice. His subsequent acting roles demonstrated his diverse range and adaptability, with standout appearances in films likeBatmanandBirdman.
Tim Burton acknowledged in a recent interview with theBritish Film Institute, mentioning that Keaton was hesitant about the follow-up. He also discussed theNight Shiftactor’s performance.
“Beautiful. He was the same way. He didn’t want to do it [initially] – he had no necessarily burning desire, but I have to say, it was the most fun. It reminded me of back in the old days, this unhinged thing unleashed on the set. I was quite shocked at how easy it was for him to kick it back into it. It was like demon possession.”
One strategy the director used to keep the originalBeetlejuice’sspirit was to bring Keaton back. In addition to reuniting some important members of the original cast, he also used a similar style of filmmaking. Burton stated:
“Working with these people again, and seeing them all, it was very emotional for me. Again, just going back to the old, same puppets and techniques. It goes back to the good old days.”
Meanwhile, when asked about finally working with Burton again onBeetlejuice 2byEmpireat a London event celebrating his 1989Batmanfilm andThe Flash, Keaton praised the director:
Keaton says that it’s incredible to be working with Tim Burton again on Beetlejuice 2: “He’s a rare breed, he’s a true artist. A true original,” he says.pic.twitter.com/vJvM5BYsOY
— Empire Magazine (@empiremagazine)August 18, 2025
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Why Did Tim Burton Choose Michael Keaton To Play Batman?
Tim Burtonhad to fight to keep Michael Keaton to play Batman in 1989 because the latterwas not known as a serious actor back then.
Nevertheless, he persisted in his beliefs because he recognized the actor’s potential, and the rest was history. In Keaton’s interview withThe Hollywood Reporter, the article also featured a statement from Burton outlining his casting decision for theBirdmanactor. As he said in the article:
“I had met lots of the square-jaw type of actors, but it’s like, well, why does somebody need to dress up like a bat? They don’t look like Arnold Schwarzenegger, they’re not a big action hero. They’re somebody who’s intelligent and kind of screwed up. And Michael has such an intensity that it’s like, ‘Yeah, I could see that guy wanting to dress up as a bat.’ It’s all rooted in psychology, Jekyll and Hyde and two sides of a personality, light and dark, and he understood that.”
Keaton was again recast by Burton for the 1992 sequelBatman Returns. The actor and director clearly share a special bond because Keaton acknowledged Burton’s role in revolutionizing theBatmanfilm franchise:
“What Tim did changed everything. Everything you see now started with him. If you really think about what happened between 1989 and now, on a cultural, corporate, economic level, it’s unbelievable.”
Beetlejuice 2, a follow-up toBeetlejuice(1988), also stars Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, Jenna Ortega, Monica Bellucci, and Willem Dafoe.
The movie is scheduled to release on August 08, 2025.
Meanwhile, you can rentBeetlejuiceon Apple TV, andBatmanis available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
Also Read:“He’s a God to me”: Jason Momoa is Absolutely in Love With Michael Keaton’s Batman Co-Star Who Now Lives a Secluded Life
Source-British Film Institute;Empire;The Hollywood Reporter
Siddhika Prajapati
Senior Journalist & Content Head
Articles Published :3310
With over 3,300 articles carved into the digital walls of FandomWire, Siddhika Prajapati excels at creating, curating, and elevating engaging stories. She takes pride in giving these stories a home and, of course, she’s got a Google Knowledge Panel to prove it!Whether it’s reviewing the latest drop on Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Apple TV+, or analyzing the cultural echoes of a streaming hit on Paramount+ or Max, Siddhika is always writing three steps ahead of the discourse.
