Spinning his wheels for the past decade or so, churning out rehash after rehash with Johnny Depp at his side, we pretty much turned our head in the other direction when the next Tim Burton project was announced. Following up last year’s Dark Shadows and Frankenweenie, news has now landed on what the helmer’s next project will be and Depp is nowhere to be found…at least for now.
Over a year ago we reported that Ryan Reynolds and Reese Witherspoon signed on to Big Eyes, a biopic from Ed Wood writers Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, with Burton in a producing role. According to Deadline, plans have now changes, with the director stepping up to behind the camera and Christoph Waltz and Amy Adams taking the lead roles of Walter and Margaret Keane, who achieved international recognition during the ’60s with “pop-eyed paintings.” Things became controversial when Margaret was the true talent who toiled in obscurity, while Walter stole all the credit and enjoyed fame.
The Weinstein Company has acquired the film to produce and distribute, marking the first time Burton has not worked with one of the major studios. It’s easy to rag on the director, but I’d be lying if this reunion with the writer team behind one of his best films, Ed Wood, didn’t have more intrigued that usual. Add in Waltz and Adams and you have the first Burton movie in some time that I’m actively anticipating.
What do you think of the plot? Are Waltz and Adams a good fit for Burton?