Michael Keaton in talks to join Tim Burton’s live-action Dumbo remake

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

It's been some time since Michael Keaton last worked with Tim Burton (that would be BATMAN RETURNS in 1992 in you're keeping score), but Variety reports that Keaton is currently in negotiations to join the cast of Burton's remake of DUMBO as the villain. I certainly like the sound of that. Production on the live-action adaptation is edging closer and Tim Burton has been gathering up quite the lovely cast of actors.

Should Michael Keaton's deal close, the actor would play evil top circus villain Vandemere, the man who acquires Medici's circus in order to "exploit the lovable elephant and his mother." Already cast are Eva Green (MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN) as Colette, a French trapeze artist who works for Vandemere, and Danny DeVito (BATMAN RETURNS) as Medici, the man who runs a smaller circus which gets scooped up by Vandemere. Also currently in talks for a role is Colin Farrell (THE LOBSTER), who would play the role of Holt, "a widowed father of two kids from Kentucky."

It'd be great to see Michael Keaton step into Tim Burton's world once again for DUMBO, which seems to be shaping up to be a little BATMAN RETURNS reunion, but even if he passes on the role, we've got plenty of Keaton to look forward to this year. Michael Keaton will next be seen as the Vulture in SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING on July 7, 2017, followed by teaching Dylan O'Brien (THE MAZE RUNNER) a thing or two about being a spy in AMERICAN ASSASSIN on September 15, 2017.