Something’s brewing in Tim Burton land.
According to Deadline, Burton is expected to head to Cannes this week for meetings with buyers about a closely guarded new film project. No details were revealed about what js being pitched.
It’s being described as a “top secret movie,” which is only going to add fuel to the speculation. What could it be? It’s certainly not “Attack of the 50 Foot Woman,” which already has a home at Warner Bros., with the script currently being written and Margot Robbie attached as the lead.
A number of longtime Burton passion projects — including adaptations of “Geek Love” and “The Fall of the House of Usher” — were never realized. Maybe he’s decided to revive one of those, although I remain skeptical.
Then there’s “Medusa.” In a more recent interview with THR, Burton was asked about a rumor that he’d be directing a Medusa movie. Of course, Burton being Burton, he deflected, neither confirming nor denying—which in all likelihood meant the project is real.
Burton is coming off 2024’s “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” which he admitted revived his inner artist after a “soul-destroying” experience making movies for Disney. Things were so dire for the filmmaker that he even contemplated early retirement after directing 2019’s “Dumbo.”
Of course, I’d rather Burton direct a non-IP film this time around. Burton brilliantly invented gothic worlds in such films as “Edward Scissorhands” and “Ed Wood.” He was once a great director—and who knows, maybe still is.
The decision has reportedly been made, though David Ellison apparently hasn't delivered the news to them directly yet. Those calls are expected by Tuesday morning.