History of Tim Burton in Timeline

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Tim Burton

Tim Burton is a celebrated American filmmaker and producer, renowned for his unique gothic horror and dark fantasy style that significantly impacted American cinema and popularized Goth culture. His work has garnered him an Emmy Award and nominations for prestigious awards like the Academy Awards, Golden Globe, and BAFTAs. Recognized for his lifetime achievements, he received the Golden Lion at the Venice International Film Festival in 2007 and the Order of Arts and Letters from the Culture Minister of France in 2010.

4 hours ago : Tim Burton Teases New Movie and Animated Project After Beetlejuice 2 Success

Tim Burton is hinting at an upcoming movie after the success of Beetlejuice 2. He also mentioned a new animated project, stating that he is currently waiting for the script.

August 25, 1958: Tim Burton's Birth

On August 25, 1958, Timothy Walter Burton was born. He is an American filmmaker and producer known for his gothic horror and dark fantasy films.

1958: Start of 'Surviving Burbank' exhibition coverage

In 1958, the "Surviving Burbank" section of the Tim Burton exhibition at the Seoul Museum of Art began to cover Tim Burton's younger years.

1971: Reference to the 1971 film adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

In 2005, Tim Burton's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was released, it was noted that it generally took a more faithful approach to the source material than the 1971 adaptation, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.

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1976: Enrolled at California Institute of the Arts

In 1976, Tim Burton attended the California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, Santa Clarita, to study character animation, marking a significant step in his formal education and career path.

1976: End of 'Surviving Burbank' exhibition coverage

In 1976, the "Surviving Burbank" section of the Tim Burton exhibition at the Seoul Museum of Art concluded its coverage of Tim Burton's younger years.

1977: Start of 'Beautifying Burbank' exhibition coverage

In 1977, the "Beautifying Burbank" section of the Tim Burton exhibition at the Seoul Museum of Art began, covering his time with CalArts and Walt Disney.

1979: Graduation from CalArts

In 1979, Tim Burton graduated from the California Institute of the Arts, completing his formal education in character animation.

1979: Source Material Reference

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, released on December 21, 2007, was based on the 1979 Broadway musical.

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1981: Animator for The Fox and the Hound

In 1981, Tim Burton worked as an animator on "The Fox and the Hound" at Walt Disney Productions, marking his early career in animation.

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1982: Made first short, Vincent

In 1982, Tim Burton created his first short film, "Vincent", a black-and-white stop motion film based on his poem and narrated by Vincent Price.

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1982: Animator for Tron

In 1982, Tim Burton worked as an animator, storyboard artist, graphic designer, art director, and concept artist on the film "Tron".

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1982: Tribute to Vincent Price

Tim Burton paid tribute to Vincent Price, one of his horror film idols, in his short film in 1982, demonstrating the early influences that shaped his career.

1983: Aired Hansel and Gretel

In 1983, Tim Burton's "Hansel and Gretel", a Japanese-themed adaptation of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale, aired once on the Disney Channel on Halloween night and was then shelved.

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1984: Frankenweenie Release

In 1984, Tim Burton's live-action short film, "Frankenweenie," was released, telling the story of a young boy who tries to revive his dog.

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1984: End of 'Beautifying Burbank' exhibition coverage

In 1984, the "Beautifying Burbank" section of the Tim Burton exhibition at the Seoul Museum of Art concluded its coverage of his time with CalArts and Walt Disney.

1984: Creation of Short Film Frankenweenie

In 2012, Tim Burton remade his 1984 short film, Frankenweenie, as a feature-length stop motion film.

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1985: Directed episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents and Faerie Tale Theatre

In 1985, Tim Burton directed episodes of the revival of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" and "Faerie Tale Theatre", contributing to anthology horror series.

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1985: Pee-wee's Big Adventure directorial debut

In 1985, Tim Burton made his directorial film debut with the comedy "Pee-wee's Big Adventure".

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1985: Work on The Black Cauldron

In 1985, Tim Burton worked as an animator, storyboard artist, graphic designer, art director, and concept artist on the film "The Black Cauldron".

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1985: Start of 'Beyond Burbank' exhibition coverage

In 1985, the "Beyond Burbank" section of the Tim Burton exhibition at the Seoul Museum of Art began, covering his career from 1985 onward.

1986: Directed Faerie Tale Theatre episode

In 1986, Tim Burton directed an episode of Shelley Duvall's television series "Faerie Tale Theatre", marking another step in his early television directing career.

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1988: Beetlejuice release

In 1988, Tim Burton gained prominence with the release of "Beetlejuice".

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June 1989: Batman release

In June 1989, Tim Burton's "Batman" was released, backed by a major marketing campaign. It became a significant box office success, grossing over $250 million in the U.S. and $400 million worldwide, earning critical acclaim and establishing Burton as a profitable director.

1989: Batman release

In 1989, Tim Burton directed the superhero film "Batman".

1990: Edward Scissorhands creation

In 1990, Tim Burton created a drawing that inspired the script for "Edward Scissorhands", which he directed, starring Johnny Depp as Edward and Vincent Price in one of his final roles.

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1990: Burton first considered Beetlejuice 2

In 1990, Tim Burton first considered making Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.

1991: Divorce from Lena Gieseke

In 1991, Tim Burton's marriage to Lena Gieseke ended after four years.

1992: Batman Returns release

In 1992, Tim Burton directed "Batman Returns", a sequel to his earlier superhero film.

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1992: Relationship with Lisa Marie begins

In 1992, Tim Burton started his relationship with model and actress Lisa Marie.

1993: The Nightmare Before Christmas production

In 1993, Tim Burton produced "The Nightmare Before Christmas" for Disney, directed by Henry Selick and written by Caroline Thompson. The film was released under Disney's Touchstone Pictures.

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1994: Directing Responsibilities Handed Over for Ed Wood; Cabin Boy Produced

In 1994, Tim Burton and Denise Di Novi produced the fantasy-comedy Cabin Boy. Originally slated to direct it, Burton handed the role to Adam Resnick after being offered Ed Wood. Burton directed Ed Wood (1994), starring Johnny Depp. Danny Elfman was replaced with Howard Shore as composer and Martin Landau won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, and the film received the Academy Award for Best Makeup.

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1994: Ed Wood release

In 1994, Tim Burton directed the biographical drama "Ed Wood".

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1994: Departure from Batman Directing; Filming for Batman Forever Begins

In 1994, Warner Bros. did not want Tim Burton to direct a third Batman installment. Burton and Warner Bros. mutually agreed to part ways. Joel Schumacher was chosen to direct the third film, while Burton would only produce it. Filming for Batman Forever began in late 1994. Michael Keaton resigned from the lead role and was replaced by Val Kilmer.

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1996: James and the Giant Peach Co-Production

In 1996, Tim Burton co-produced "James and the Giant Peach", collaborating again with Henry Selick.

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1996: Mars Attacks! release

In 1996, Tim Burton directed the science fiction film "Mars Attacks!".

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June 1997: Superman film enters pre-production

In June 1997, the Superman film that Tim Burton was set to direct entered pre-production with Nicolas Cage as Superman. Wesley Strick was hired to rewrite Kevin Smith's script.

1997: The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy & Other Stories release

In 1997, Tim Burton released the book "The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy & Other Stories".

The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy & Other Stories
The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy & Other Stories

April 1998: Superman film put on hold

In April 1998, Warner Bros. put the Superman film directed by Tim Burton on hold due to budgetary reasons, after ordering another rewrite. Burton then left the project to direct Sleepy Hollow.

1999: Sleepy Hollow release

In 1999, Tim Burton directed the supernatural horror film "Sleepy Hollow".

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2000: Audio commentary of Pee-wee's Big Adventure DVD release

In 2000, Paul Reubens mentioned on the audio commentary of the DVD release of "Pee-wee's Big Adventure" that he chose Tim Burton to direct the film after seeing "Frankenweenie".

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2001: Planet of the Apes release

In 2001, Tim Burton directed the science fiction film "Planet of the Apes".

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2001: Relationship with Lisa Marie ends

In 2001, Tim Burton's relationship with Lisa Marie ended.

2002: Disney considers a sequel to The Nightmare Before Christmas

In 2002, The Walt Disney Company considered producing a computer-animated sequel to The Nightmare Before Christmas, but Tim Burton convinced them to drop the idea, wanting to preserve the film's purity.

2003: Birth of Burton's son

In 2003, Tim Burton and Helena Bonham Carter had a son.

2003: Big Fish Release

In 2003, Tim Burton directed Big Fish, based on the novel by Daniel Wallace. The film received four Golden Globe nominations and an Academy Award nomination for Danny Elfman's score. This film marked the second collaboration between Burton and Helena Bonham Carter, as well as Burton and Danny DeVito.

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2005: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Release; Corpse Bride Production

In 2005, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, starring Johnny Depp, was released and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Costume Design. Simultaneously, Burton, Depp, and Elfman worked on Corpse Bride, Burton's first full-length stop motion film as a director.

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2005: Lisa Marie holds auction of Burton's belongings

In 2005, Lisa Marie held an auction of personal belongings that Tim Burton had left behind, much to his dismay.

2005: Corpse Bride and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory release

In 2005, Tim Burton directed the animated film "Corpse Bride" and the musical "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory".

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2005: Shows interest in 9.

In 2005, after seeing Shane Acker's short film 9, Tim Burton showed interest in producing a feature-length adaptation of the film.

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2005: DVD Release of Batman Forever with Deleted Scenes

In 2005, deleted scenes that Warner Bros. demanded Schumacher remove from Batman Forever were added as deleted scenes on the DVD release, because the film did not have the same tone as its predecessor, Batman Returns.

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2006: Directs "Bones" Music Video

In 2006, Tim Burton directed his first music video, "Bones", for The Killers' song from the album Sam's Town.

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December 21, 2007: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Released

On December 21, 2007, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street was released to critical acclaim, grossing $153 million worldwide. Burton's work won a National Board of Review Award for Best Director and an Academy Award for Best Art Direction.

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2007: Birth of Burton's daughter

In 2007, Tim Burton and Helena Bonham Carter had a daughter.

2007: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street release

In 2007, Tim Burton directed the musical "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street".

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2007: Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement

In 2007, Tim Burton was honored with the Venice International Film Festival's Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement, recognizing his contributions to the film industry.

May 2008: Filming Begins for Alice in Wonderland

Filming for Alice in Wonderland began in May 2008, with locations including Torpoint and Plymouth.

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November 22, 2009: Tim Burton retrospective at MoMA

On November 22, 2009, a Tim Burton retrospective opened at the MoMA in New York, featuring over 700 drawings, paintings, and other works from his career.

2009: Henry Selick considers a sequel to The Nightmare Before Christmas

In 2009, Henry Selick stated that he could make a sequel to The Nightmare Before Christmas if he and Burton could create a good story for it.

2009: The Art of Tim Burton released

In 2009, The Art of Tim Burton, a compilation of Tim Burton's drawings, sketches, and artwork, was released.

The Art of Tim Burton, Standard Edition
The Art of Tim Burton, Standard Edition

2009: Promotes 9 and Alice in Wonderland at Comic-Con

In 2009, Tim Burton appeared at Comic-Con in San Diego, California, to promote both 9 and Alice in Wonderland.

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2009: Vincent goes on public display

In 2009, Tim Burton's short film, Vincent, went on public display at the Museum of Modern Art.

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March 5, 2010: Alice in Wonderland Released

On March 5, 2010, Alice in Wonderland was released. The film won two Academy Awards, grossing $1 billion worldwide and becoming the highest-grossing film of Burton's career.

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March 15, 2010: Chevalier of Arts and Letters

On March 15, 2010, Tim Burton received the insignia of Chevalier of Arts and Letters from the French Minister of Culture, Frédéric Mitterrand.

March 2010: Alice in Wonderland released

In March 2010, Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland was released, and additional material from the film was incorporated into the ACMI exhibition in Melbourne.

April 26, 2010: Tim Burton retrospective at MoMA ends

On April 26, 2010, the Tim Burton retrospective at the MoMA in New York concluded.

July 19, 2010: Burton to direct Monsterpocalypse

On July 19, 2010, Tim Burton was announced as the director of the upcoming film adaptation of Monsterpocalypse.

October 10, 2010: ACMI Tim Burton exhibition ends

On October 10, 2010, the Tim Burton exhibition at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) in Melbourne concluded.

2010: Alice in Wonderland release

In 2010, Tim Burton directed the fantasy film "Alice in Wonderland".

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2010: Order of Arts and Letters

In 2010, Tim Burton was given the Order of Arts and Letters by the Culture Minister of France, further recognizing his impact on the arts.

May 2011: Filming of Dark Shadows Begins

In May 2011, Tim Burton began filming Dark Shadows, a feature film adaptation of the 1960s television series.

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October 31, 2011: The Art of Tim Burton exhibition at LACMA ends

On October 31, 2011, "The Art of Tim Burton" exhibition at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) concluded.

November 2011: Talks to Direct Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

In November 2011, Tim Burton entered talks to direct a film adaptation of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.

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2011: Burton considers directing Maleficent

In 2011, Tim Burton was briefly attached to direct Maleficent for Walt Disney Pictures, but chose to pursue Dark Shadows and Frankenweenie instead.

2011: Tim Burton art exhibit at LACMA

In 2011, Tim Burton's art was exhibited at LACMA as part of a Tim Burton art exhibit, showcasing his diverse creative works.

2011: Burton to direct The Hunchback of Notre-Dame

In 2011, it was reported that Tim Burton was working on a live-action adaptation of The Hunchback of Notre-Dame starring Josh Brolin, but the project did not move forward.

May 11, 2012: Dark Shadows Released

On May 11, 2012, Dark Shadows was released and grossed $245 million worldwide.

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June 22, 2012: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter Released

On June 22, 2012, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, co-produced by Tim Burton, was released. The film received mixed reviews and performed poorly at the box office.

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July 2012: Working on Beetlejuice Beetlejuice announced

In July 2012, it was announced that Tim Burton was working with Seth Grahame-Smith on Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, a project he had considered since 1990. Michael Keaton expressed interest in reprising his role.

August 5, 2012: Tim Burton exhibition at Cinémathèque Française ends

On August 5, 2012, the Tim Burton exhibition at the Cinémathèque Française in Paris, France, concluded.

October 5, 2012: Frankenweenie Released

On October 5, 2012, Tim Burton's feature-length stop motion film Frankenweenie was released to positive reviews.

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December 12, 2012: Tim Burton at Seoul Museum of Art exhibition opens

On December 12, 2012, the "Tim Burton at Seoul Museum of Art" exhibition opened in Seoul, South Korea. It featured 862 of Burton's works.

2012: Burton to work with Valve on Deep

In 2012, Shane Acker confirmed that Tim Burton would work with Valve to create his next animated feature film, Deep, set in a post-apocalyptic world.

2012: Directs "Here with Me" Music Video

In 2012, Tim Burton directed a second music video for The Killers, "Here with Me", starring Winona Ryder.

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2012: Frankenweenie and Dark Shadows Release

In 2012, Tim Burton directed the animated film "Frankenweenie" and the fantasy film "Dark Shadows".

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2012: Shown at the Seoul Museum of Art

In 2012, Tim Burton's short, Hansel and Gretel, was shown at the Seoul Museum of Art.

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April 15, 2013: Tim Burton at Seoul Museum of Art exhibition ends

On April 15, 2013, the Tim Burton exhibition at the Seoul Museum of Art concluded. The exhibition was divided into three parts covering different eras of Burton's life and work.

July 17, 2013: 3D stop motion animation adaptation of The Addams Family scrapped

On July 17, 2013, the 3D stop motion animation adaptation of The Addams Family, which Tim Burton was reported to direct, was scrapped.

2013: Acker focuses on Beasts of Burden

In 2013, Shane Acker began focusing on another project called Beasts of Burden, and there have been no further mentions of Deep since then.

2013: Filming of Big Eyes Began

In mid-2013, filming began in Vancouver, British Columbia, for Tim Burton's biographical drama film Big Eyes.

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August 8, 2014: Tim Burton and His World exhibition in Prague ends

On August 8, 2014, the "Tim Burton and His World" exhibition at the Stone Bell House in Prague, Czech Republic, concluded.

December 2014: Burton and Bonham Carter separate

In December 2014, it was announced that Helena Bonham Carter and Tim Burton had amicably separated earlier that year.

December 25, 2014: Big Eyes Released

On December 25, 2014, Big Eyes, directed by Tim Burton and starring Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz, was released in U.S. theaters. The film received generally positive reviews.

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2014: Big Eyes release

In 2014, Tim Burton directed the biographical drama "Big Eyes".

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2015: The Napkin Art of Tim Burton: Things You Think About in a Bar released

In 2015, The Napkin Art of Tim Burton: Things You Think About in a Bar, a book containing sketches made by Tim Burton on napkins, was released.

February 4, 2016: Tim Burton and His World exhibition in São Paulo opens

On February 4, 2016, the "Tim Burton and His World" exhibition premiered at the Museu da Imagem e do Som in São Paulo, Brazil.

September 30, 2016: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children Released

On September 30, 2016, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, directed by Tim Burton, was released in theatres.

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November 5, 2016: Tim Burton and His World exhibition in Hong Kong opens

On November 5, 2016, the "Tim Burton and His World" exhibition opened at Artis Tree in Taikoo Place, Hong Kong.

2016: Alice Through the Looking Glass Released

In 2016, Tim Burton produced the film Alice Through the Looking Glass, which was directed by James Bobin.

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January 23, 2017: Tim Burton and His World exhibition in Hong Kong ends

On January 23, 2017, the "Tim Burton and His World" exhibition in Artis Tree in Taikoo Place, Hong Kong, concluded.

October 2017: Mike Vukadinovich hired to write Beetlejuice 2 script

In October 2017, Mike Vukadinovich was hired to write a script for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, aiming for the film's 30th anniversary.

March 29, 2019: Dumbo Released

On March 29, 2019, Tim Burton's live-action adaptation of Disney's Dumbo was released.

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April 2019: Beetlejuice 2 shelved

In April 2019, Warner Bros. announced that the Beetlejuice Beetlejuice sequel had been shelved.

August 11, 2019: Tim Burton and His World exhibition in Brasília ends

On August 11, 2019, the "Tim Burton and His World" exhibition at the Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil in Brasília concluded.

October 2019: Lost Vegas: Tim Burton exhibition opened

In October 2019, Burton's first exhibition in the United States in nearly a decade, Lost Vegas: Tim Burton, opened at The Neon Museum in Las Vegas.

2019: Dumbo release

In 2019, Tim Burton directed the fantasy film "Dumbo".

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February 2021: Directing and producing Wednesday for Netflix

In February 2021, it was announced that Tim Burton would be directing and producing Wednesday, a series for Netflix based on The Addams Family. This marked his first television directing role since the 1980s.

September 2021: Production of Wednesday began

In September 2021, production began on Wednesday, the Netflix series directed and produced by Tim Burton. The first season aimed for a November 2022 release.

February 2022: Beetlejuice 2 revived

In February 2022, the Beetlejuice Beetlejuice sequel was announced again, produced by Brad Pitt's studio Plan B Entertainment, alongside Warner Bros.

October 2022: Burton and Bellucci met at Lyon's Lumière Film Festival

In October 2022, Tim Burton met Monica Bellucci at the Lyon's Lumière Film Festival.

October 2022: Burton says he will probably never work with Disney again

In October 2022, Tim Burton stated he would likely never work with The Walt Disney Company again after Dumbo. He cited differences in style and Disney's focus on Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilm as reasons, feeling there was less room for diverse creative approaches.

November 2022: Release of Wednesday

In November 2022, Wednesday, the series directed and produced by Tim Burton, was released on Netflix and received critical acclaim.

2022: Directed episodes for Wednesday

Starting in 2022, Tim Burton directed several episodes for the Netflix series "Wednesday".

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February 2023: Burton's relationship with Bellucci reported

In February 2023, Tim Burton's relationship with Monica Bellucci was reported.

May 10, 2023: Beetlejuice 2 starts shooting

On May 10, 2023, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice officially started shooting in London, with Tim Burton as director. Keaton and Ryder reprise their roles, and Ortega and Theroux joined the cast.

June 2023: Bellucci speaks publicly about relationship with Burton

In June 2023, Monica Bellucci first spoke publicly about her relationship with Tim Burton.

September 2023: Report of Burton and Bonham Carter's marriage

In September 2023, The Independent reported that Tim Burton and Helena Bonham Carter had been married for years before their separation.

September 6, 2024: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice release date

September 6, 2024, is the announced release date for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, directed by Tim Burton.

2024: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice release

In 2024, Tim Burton directed "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice", the sequel to the 1988 film.

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