On Tuesday, September 3rd, Tim Burton—the man responsible for all your gothic daydreams—got his very own star on the Walk of Fame! And it wasn’t just any old ceremony, oh no. It was a full-fledged Beetlejuice Beetlejuice reunion, with none other than Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder showing up to cheer on their favorite director.
These two weren’t alone. Tim’s star-studded entourage also included the ever-iconic Danny DeVito, who probably rolled up like the legend he is, and Monica Bellucci, Tim’s longtime love who makes even vampires jealous of her eternal beauty. Oh, and let’s not forget Winona’s partner, Scott Mackinlay Hahn, who likely stood around trying to figure out how to match the level of weirdness in the room. Spoiler: it’s impossible.
Now, before you get too excited, this wasn’t just a casual Tuesday hangout. This event comes just days before Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (yes, you’ve got to say it twice, like a magical spell) returns to haunt theaters yet again. Cue the fan screams and sudden urges to start wearing black-and-white stripes.
During the ceremony, Michael Keaton took the mic and turned into a gush machine. He told the crowd how Tim Burton decided to cast him as Batman. (Yes, that Batman, the one who fights crime, broods in caves, and never skips a chest day.)
Tim handed Michael a script and, in the most chill way possible, asked, “Tell me what you think.” Now, this was after Michael’s legendary performance in Beetlejuice (aka one of the weirdest and most glorious movies of all time). Everyone thought Tim had lost his mind. Imagine telling a studio, “I want Beetlejuice to be Batman.” The outrage! The chaos! The tabloid meltdowns! You’d think Gotham City itself was under attack.
But Tim, being the visionary madman he is, stood firm. “No, seriously, that guy is Batman,” he said, probably while sipping tea out of a skeleton-shaped mug. And Michael? Well, he’s forever grateful, because that bold decision basically changed the superhero game. Without Tim’s vision, we might still be watching caped crusaders wearing underwear on the outside of their pants. A true tragedy.
So here’s to Tim Burton: the man, the myth, the master of making weird not just normal—but legendary.
@varietymagazine Michael Keaton praises Tim Burton: "There are a lot of people making a lot of money out there with their superhero movies because of his choice and his vision of what those movies could be, because he changed everything."
