Michael Keaton Trashes His Own Performance in Tim Burton Movie

Michael Keaton has a long working relationship with director Tim Burton, but there’s one collaboration he isn’t a fan of.

“I think I let him down on one movie, but that’s just me, and it bugs me to this day,” Keaton told NYT. That movie? Dumbo.

“I was clueless on Dumbo,” the actor continued. “I sucked in Dumbo.” The 2019 live-action adaptation is a reimagining of Walt Disney’s 1941 animated film about a baby elephant with extremely large ears who uses them to fly.

Keaton stars alongside Colin Farrell, Danny DeVito, Eva Green and Alan Arkin. He plays the villain V.A. Vandevere, a ruthless entrepreneur seeking to exploit Dumbo for his amusement park.

While the Batman and Beetlejuice actor doesn’t elaborate on why he “sucked,” Burton’s not buying it. “I don’t even know what you’re talking about, but whatever,” the director replied.

The pair reunite in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, sequel to the 1998 horror comedy original, which releases 6 September, 2024. And word is, Keaton doesn’t suck.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is called “ghoulishly fun”, “joyous” and “an absolute thrill ride” in first reactions.