As he reprises one of his most beloved roles, Michael Keaton is giving credit where it’s due for one of Hollywood’s most lucrative trends.
The Academy Award nominee said Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice director Tim Burton “deserves enormous credit” for his influence on the MCU and DCU franchises, which Keaton argues began when Burton chose to cast him as the Dark Knight in 1989’s Batman.
“He changed everything,” Keaton told GQ. “I can’t necessarily say this, but there’s a strong possibility there is no Marvel Universe, there is no DC Universe, without Tim Burton. He was doubted and questioned.”
Burton cast Keaton as one of the most revered portrayals of Batman, also in Batman Returns (1992), after first working with him on Beetlejuice the year before, despite many being against the choice at the time.
“He hasn’t gotten himself enough credit for going, ‘Yeah, that guy.’ And everybody went, ‘Wait, Michael? You worked with him on Beetlejuice, right?’ But I think what happened was Tim saw Clean and Sober [Keaton’s first non-comedic role]. I get the credit. I don’t know that he got enough credit for making that move. That was a bold move.”
Michelle Pfeiffer, Michael Keaton and director Tim Burton on the set of Batman Returns (1992).
Michael Keaton and director Tim Burton on the set of Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice (2024).
Warner Bros.
Keaton most recently reprised the superhero role in last year’s The Flash, which also featured an AI-created version of Burton’s Superman (played by Nicolas Cage) after their movie Superman Lives originally failed to launch in 1998.
In Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, premiering Sept. 6, Keaton reprises his eponymous ghoul as Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder) returns home with her daughter Astrid (Jenna Ortega), who discovers a portal to the afterlife.