Tim Burton Isn’t Interested in Any ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ Prequel, Sequel or Reboot
Tim Burton has made it clear that he’s not up for any more ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ adventures. In a recent interview, the filmmaker expressed how the 1993 stop-motion classic holds a special place in his heart, and he’s not keen on meddling with it.
Having dabbled in sequels, reboots, and the whole shebang, Burton bluntly stated, “I don’t want that to happen to this.” Comparing himself to a grumpy landowner, he declared, “It’s nice that people are maybe interested [in another one], but I’m not. I feel like that old guy who owns a little piece of property and won’t sell to the big power plant that wants to take my land. Get off of my land! You pesky little… You ain’t getting this property! I don’t care what you want to build on it. You come on my property… Where’s my shotgun?”
‘A Nightmare Before Christmas,’ born from Burton’s imagination, follows the misadventures of Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town. Burton explained the personal connection, describing Jack as a character “perceived as dark, but is really light.” For Burton, it resonated with his own experiences of being seen as dark when he didn’t feel that way.
Burton’s stance contradicts recent comments from ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ director Henry Selick, who hinted at the possibility of a prequel. Selick acknowledged the challenges of a sequel but teased, “There might be a more interesting story there about how Jack became the King of Halloween Town.”
Despite rumours circulating for years about Disney’s interest in a sequel, Burton remains firm in his position. Meanwhile, live productions of the beloved film continue, with last Halloween’s celebration of its 30th anniversary featuring a live performance that sadly saw Halsey backing out due to unforeseen circumstances. Original composer and Jack’s voice, Danny Elfman, graced the stage alongside Phoebe Bridgers.
Reflecting on the live productions, Elfman admitted feeling nervous about the scale, saying, “I still think of Nightmare as a little show that should be in a little theatre, in front of maybe 100 people.” Bridgers chimed in, sharing her initial nerves but ultimately finding it “awesome” to be part of such a unique event.
In the midst of these discussions, Selick previously underscored his role in bringing ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ to life, asserting that the film wasn’t titled ‘Tim Burton’s Nightmare’ until shortly before its release. He acknowledged Burton’s genius but emphasized the creative efforts of his own team in making the film a reality.
-Britney Jones
