Tim Burton 'not interested' in returning to superhero movies

Tim Burton is "not interested" in making another superhero movie.

The Hollywood director previously helmed 1989's 'Batman' and 1992's 'Batman Returns' both starring his 'Beetlejuice' leading man Michael Keaton as the caped crusader but Burton is adamant he's not got any plans to return to the comic book world.

He told Variety: "At the moment, I would say no. I come at things from different points of view, so I would never say never to anything. But, at the moment, it’s not something I’d be interested in."

Burton went on to reveal making 'Batman' in 1988 was a very different experience to way most superhero films are made these days because the shoot felt "experimental".

He explained to the publication: "I was lucky because at that time, the word ‘franchise’ didn’t exist. 'Batman' felt slightly experimental at the time …

"It deviated from what the perception [of a superhero movie] might be. So you didn’t hear that kind of studio feedback, and being in England [shooting the film], it was even further removed.

"We really just got to focus on the film and not really think about those things that now they think about even before you do it."

Burton walked away from the 'Batman' movies after making his 1992 sequel and he admits the tide was starting to turn while they were shooting the film.

He added: "I got reenergised by the whole thing [when I returned for the sequel]. And that was when we started hearing the word franchise and where the studio started going, ‘What’s the black stuff coming out of the Penguin’s mouth?’

"It was the first time the cold wind of that kind of thing came upon me'."

Burton came close to returning to superhero movies in the 1990s when he signed up to direct 'Superman Lives' which would have starred Nicolas Cage in the leading role, but the film was axed in 1998 and never made it into production.

In an interview with the British Film Institute, Burton previously admitted the cancelled movie has haunted him ever since. He said: "I don’t have regrets.

"I will say this: when you work that long on a project and it doesn’t happen, it affects you for the rest of your life.

"Because you get passionate about things, and each thing is an unknown journey, and it wasn’t there yet. But it’s one of those experiences that never leaves you, a little bit."