Tim Burton Says Jack Nicholson ‘Protected’ And ‘Nurtured’ Him On ‘Batman’ In 1989

Tim Burton, Director of the film, is Hollywood mainstay, but that wasn’t always the case. The 64-year old is now reflecting on his first major project and how Jack Nicholson treated him.

Burton talked about his time working alongside Nicholson who played The Joker, in the 1989 classic “Batman.” First, he informed Empire that the “Terms of Endearment” star It was hard to communicate with.

“Jack has a very abstract way of speaking. So he would say things to me and I’d go, ‘Yeah, I get it,’ and then I’d go to someone, ‘What the f*** was he just talking about?”‘ Burton told the publication. “So there was this weird communication: non-linear, non-connective … But it was very clear to me. I felt like we had a good sort of caveman-style communication.”

At that point in his career, the director had only made “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure” in 1985 and “Beetlejuice” 1988. Burton explained that not everyone was in agreement with his vision. “Batman,” But Nicholson was his source of support, confidence and encouragement.

“[Nicholson] protected me and nurtured me, kept me going, by just not getting too overwhelmed with the whole thing. I felt really supported by him in a very deep way,” Burton explained the following during an interview: per The Daily Mail

“I was young and dealing with a big studio, and he just quietly gave me the confidence to do what I needed to do. And him being a voice of support had a lot of resonance with the studio. It got me through the whole thing. It gave me strength,” The director was nominated for an award.

“Batman” It was a huge success at the box-office, earning $251 million domestically and over $400 million worldwide with a budget of $40 million.

Empire spoke with Burton previously about the newest. “Batman” Film returns to darker themes, like The Daily Wire before reported. 

“It is funny to see this now, because all these memories come back of, ‘It’s too dark,’” Burton expressed his disappointment at the film’s follow-up. “Batman Returns.” “So, it makes me laugh a little bit.”

“[Back then] they went the other way,” he continued, referencing Joel Schumacher’s campy, over-the-top movies “Batman Forever” “Batman & Robin.”

“That’s the funny thing about it. But then I was like, ‘Wait a minute. Okay. Hold on a second here. You complain about me, I’m too weird, I’m too dark, and then you put nipples on the costume? Go f*** yourself.’ Seriously. So yeah, I think that’s why I didn’t end up [doing a third film] …” He stated.

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