Tim Burton Rules Out Sequels for "Edward Scissorhands" and "The Nightmare Before Christmas"

Tim Burton, fresh off the success of the recent "Beetlejuice" sequel, has made it clear that he has no plans to revisit some of his other iconic films, including "Edward Scissorhands." During a Q&A at the Marrakech International Film Festival, Burton explained that he feels certain movies, like "Edward Scissorhands" and "The Nightmare Before Christmas," were best left as standalone stories. He emphasized, "Certain things are best left on their own," and for him, these films fall into that category.

Although Burton hasn't worked with Johnny Depp since 2012’s "Dark Shadows," the two have collaborated on numerous films, including "Edward Scissorhands," "Sleepy Hollow," and "Sweeney Todd." When asked about the possibility of working with Depp again, Burton expressed confidence, saying, "I'm sure there will be" another collaboration. However, he also pointed out that his casting decisions are always driven by the project at hand, rather than a desire to work with specific actors.

Burton’s return to the world of "Beetlejuice" was met with success. The sequel, which reunited him with original stars Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O’Hara, opened to the second-biggest September debut of all time, earning $110 million domestically and grossing over $450 million globally. The film has received generally positive reviews, with a 76% "fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a "B+" grade from CinemaScore.

In an interview with Variety, Burton reflected on what drew him back to "Beetlejuice" after so many years. He mentioned his strong connection to Lydia, the character played by Winona Ryder, and the exploration of what happens to people years after they were once rebellious teenagers. Burton explained that the emotional anchor for the film was exploring the journey of the Deetz family and Lydia, asking, "What happens to people 35 years later?" He also described working with the original cast as a "strange but beautiful" experience, and noted that while he didn't rewatch the original film, he chose to dive into the sequel without overthinking its predecessor's success.