Quick Links
Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas is one of the few, most adored, animated films by Disney that has not received a sequel. Replayed every Halloween and Christmas, the film’s popularity and alluring mystery warrants a continuation in some form. Disney has expanded the lore in graphic and literary novels to continue the stories of Jack Skellington, Zero, and Sally. But there’s a reason why there has yet to be an animated sequel.
Tim Burton’s relationship with Disney has been rocky since calling the studio a “horrible big circus” that he needed to escape from after his time working on Dumbo. After more than three decades of working together, Tim Burton thinks his days of making more films with Disney are done. This is an unfortunate realization for fans of The Nightmare Before Christmas hoping the animator would eventually return for a cinematic sequel. While there’s always that possibility, there is another option that Disney and Tim Burton could pursue to continue the onscreen adventures of the characters in The Nightmare Before Christmas.
The Nightmare Before Christmas: Holiday Doors, Explained
The holiday doors of The Nightmare Before Christmas are still full of mystery after thirty years, but that’s starting to change.
Why Tim Burton Doesn't Want Nightmare Before Christmas Sequels
The film ends with all the loose ends tied up as far as the plot goes. But the question of what’s behind the other doors in the Hinterlands remains unanswered. Of course, this naturally invites speculation and is a healthy dose of mystery for fans. As such, it is a question that doesn’t necessarily have to be answered. It was a perfect ending for the Pumpkin King, according to Tim Burton. Producing a sequel may seemingly undo that notion.
Tim Burton has produced adaptations, reboots, and sequels for other films. It’s not an issue of lack of imagination or capability on Tim Burton’s part in his reluctance to produce a sequel to The Nightmare Before Christmas. Rather, the animator just isn’t interested in doing so. Speaking to Empire magazine, Tim notes that the movie is very special to him and the story of Jack is deeply personal. Despite the successful commercial potential, Tim Burton wants to simply let the film be. Tim Burton:
“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 my land… Where’s my shotgun?’”
Tim Burton’s personal connection to the story of Jack Skellington is touching and should be honored, but the franchise shouldn’t suffer or be held back because of it. Granting Disney the right to produce stories in other mediums satisfies the market demands for more stories while maintaining Tim’s stance on not producing a filmed sequel or prequel to The Nightmare Before Christmas. Another option, however, is to produce a sequel without Tim Burton’s involvement altogether, if he’d agree to such a proposition.
Why The Nightmare Before Christmas Sequels Shouldn't Involve Tim Burton
Disney’s literary prequels and sequels to The Nightmare Before Christmas have captured the imagination of Tim Burton and have spun it in a different way that is as equally entertaining as the film. His personal connection and preference for keeping the motion picture rights to himself aside, Tim’s belief that Jack had the perfect happily ever after ending limits the possibility to continue his story. However, it doesn’t preclude Tim Burton or others from producing stories that follow other characters. Shea Ernshaw’s Long Live The Pumpkin Queen novel has proven to be an excellent example of how the franchise can evolve without Tim Burton, and without a focus on Jack Skellington as the protagonist.
There is much more worth exploring in both Halloween Town and the rest of the realms. If only to avoid connections to Jack Skellington, future cinematic sequels could feature stories about Tim Burton's other characters and holiday worlds. Valentine’s Town, as depicted in the novel by Ernshaw, presents an opportunity to explore the vibrant world of cupids on its own. It also offers the potential conflict that could destroy Jack’s “happy ever after” ending thanks to the carelessness of cupids, and the bleeding-heart flower, which can cause a broken heart.
There’s no commercial reason as to why there shouldn’t be cinematic sequels to The Nightmare Before Christmas. The fact that Tim Burton permits the continuation of the franchise in other mediums but not in motion pictures reveals that the choice is merely personal preference, if not also artistically over-protective. The franchise can and should continue onscreen, even without Tim Burton. Shea Ernshaw’s spinoff novel is a great starting point for a film adaptation. It adds new life and depth to not only Sally’s story, but also the ever mysterious world of The Nightmare Before Christmas.
The Nightmare Before Christmas: Long Live The Pumpkin Queen Novel, Explained
Long Live the Pumpkin Queen continues the story of Sally from The Nightmare Before Christmas as she journeys to a new town.
Source: Empire
