Last week, it was revealed that legendary Disney animator Ron Clements would be coming out of retirement and stepping back into the Disney Animation studio to help guide the next generation of animators. Naturally, longtime fans are excited, but it also begs the question: is he the only one?
Disney has had a major identity crisis post-2020, and now it seems like they're calling on the old guard to help rebuild its empire's image. Ron Clements is a great start, and it might not be long before John Musker joins his co-creator, but there's one icon of the industry Disney needs... and the studio might need to beg.
Could Tim Burton do Disney again?
Tim Burton, the brilliant mind behind iconic films like Batman, Beetlejuice, and Edward Scissorhands, is one of the most iconic directors in cinematic history, but he got his start in the industry by cutting his teeth on projects at Walt Disney Pictures. Thanks to Burton, Disney has such classics as The Nightmare Before Christmas, James and the Giant Peach, and Frankenweenie.
For all his weird and wonderful contributions, however, Burton had a tumultuous relationship with The Walt Disney Company, even getting reportedly fired by the studio earlier in his film career. In 2019, the filmmaker revealed he had made his last project for the mouse with the remake of Dumbo. Per Deadline, Burton made the following statement.
“My history is that I started out there. I was hired and fired like several times throughout my career there. The thing about Dumbo, is that’s why I think my days with Disney are done, I realized that I was Dumbo, that I was working in this horrible big circus and I needed to escape. That movie is quite autobiographical at a certain level..."
Why Disney needs Burton
If there's one thing that can be said about Tim Burton, it's that he always has an audience. Look at his recent projects like Wednesday and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Once more, Burton has tapped into the cult film phenomenon and made it work in his favor.
As his most-recent film, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, raked it in and the box office and "slayed" critics, it's clear that the prolific director hasn't lost his mojo or sense of style. That's exactly why Disney needs him back, but only on his terms.
As much as fans like to glorify and mystify Disney's image, it's still a major media company with money on the mind. Disney has had its fair share of shadowy deals, and getting someone like Burton back on the team won't be easy.
To recap, Disney needs Burton because he has the vision, the fan support, and the experience the studio needs to help craft a new hit. While we won't see a Marvel movie or maybe even another live-action remake from him, an original Burton masterpiece could generate some goodwill and box office gold for the wounded kingdom. Stranger things have happened...
What's your favorite Tim Burton film?