Michael Keaton Confirms Role in Tim Burton's Live-Action Dumbo

Dumbo

Michael Keaton has confirm that he ’ll be playing the role of the villain in film director Tim Burton ’s alive - action mechanism version ofDumbo . Keaton and Burton , of course , go back a long way in Hollywood , pop in 1988 when the iconic director cast the funnyman in his spectral funniness classicBeetlejuice . Despite the welcome reception of the plastic film , perhaps the biggest breakthrough for both the managing director and actor come in a yr later when Burton went against the grain and cast the comedic actor in the titular role inBatman . The move was not only embraced by fans after an initial outcry , it created the chance for dynamic duet to reunify for the sequelBatman Returnsin 1991 .

While both Burton and Keaton went to extremely successful career in the next two and a one-half decades , the filmmaker and role player ’s originative path never crossed again until now . More than two months after word surfaced thatKeaton was in negotiationsto join Burton ’s live - action mechanism version of the classic animated Disney taleDumbo , the histrion is saying he ’s officially on plank .

In an consultation this week withGood Morning AmericaaboutSpider - Man : Homecoming , Keaton said ofDumbo,“I am reunite with Tim Burton . “Cast as a villain once again in the film after playing the marauder polar Tom Holland ’s Spider - Man , Keaton joked,“It ’s gettin ' old . “Praising Burton , Keaton added,“You just want to be around that bozo . You want to be in his celestial sphere because he ’s original and unique and an artist . "

While Keaton did n’t go into any detail about hisDumbocharacter , he ’s reportedly going to play Vandemere — an exploitive circus owner who is look to obtain a smaller carnival cognitive operation from Medici ( Danny DeVito ) whose attractions let in the illustrious flying elephant . Burton alumEva Greenis also confiscate to the film to play Collette , a French trapeze artist in Vandermere ’s carnival ; andColin Farrellis reportedly tie to play the lead role of a widower with two children .

WhileDumbomight not be quite the reunionBeetlejuicefans have been pushing for , it ’s still very exciting that Burton and Keaton are working together again after a 25 - class hiatus . empty the two have like creative sensibilities , and with any luck , once their quislingism begins on - hardening , perhaps it will quickly lead to another reunification withBeetlejuice 2a muckle rather than subsequently . The stake is definitely there . Keaton say in 2014 thathe and Burton had talkedabout the likely sequel ; and Burton’sDark Shadowsscreenwriter Seth Grahame - Smith has reportedly complete the script .