Tim Burton Makes It Clear: His 90s Animated Classic Is Untouchable

Summary:

• The Nightmare Before Christmas was a one-time wonder, but many fans have been clamoring for a sequel for years
• Recently, the film's director, Henry Selick, mentioned that he wouldn't mind doing a prequel
• However, the film's creator, Tim Burton, rejects the idea altogether for an unexpected reason

Throughout his long and prolific career, Tim Burton has been involved in the creation of a number of iconic and very original films, including but not limited to Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, and Sleepy Hollow.

But one of his most unique creations remains the 1993 stop-motion animated film The Nightmare Before Christmas, which hasn't aged a bit in the thirty years since its release and still has countless dedicated fans around the world.

Although the film was directed by Henry Selick, it was entirely the brainchild of Burton, who wrote a poem of the same name eleven years earlier in 1982.

The story of Jack Skellington, voiced by Chris Sarandon and sung by Danny Elfman, captured the hearts of audiences and has since become a Halloween and Christmas classic.

Nightmare Before Christmas Director Wouldn't Mind Making A Prequel

With such outstanding success, many fans have been expecting a sequel or another project set in the same enchanting world, but with each passing year it has become less and less likely.

However, not long ago, the film's director Henry Selick mentioned in an interview with People magazine that the only thing keeping another Nightmare Before Christmas movie from happening was Tim Burton himself.

He said that while making a sequel wasn't exactly a great idea, a prequel about how Jack became the King of Halloween Town had a lot more potential, and Chris Sarandon stated that he was more than eager to reprise the role.

But Selick didn't think Burton would ever greenlight such a project, and without his blessing, there's no way it would ever see the light of day.

Now, in an interview with Empire, Tim Burton has finally set the record straight and confirmed that he doesn't want The Nightmare Before Christmas to get a sequel of any kind.

Tim Burton Values The Movie Too Much To Jeopardize It

According to the filmmaker, although he has made sequels to his work in the past, this particular movie is just too important to him personally, as it holds a special place in his heart.

While Burton is pleased that people are interested in the film after so many years, he would hate to see it suffer the same fate as many projects that have received sequels and prequels before it.

He compared himself to an old man who does not want to sell his property to a big company that wants to take over his land because it is too personal to give to anyone else.

Most fans agree with the filmmaker's decision, even if some of them are a little disappointed, because by remaining a one-time wonder, the movie will forever retain its iconic status, untainted by a possibly mediocre follow-up.

Trying to catch lightning in a bottle a second time can easily lead to failure, as countless projects over the years have proven.

Although Burton is currently preoccupied with Beetlejuice 2, this is a completely different case, as the filmmaker has wanted to make a sequel since the 1990s.

The film is scheduled to be released on September 6, 2024.

Sources: Empire, Reddit, People