If we learned anything from this entire rumor, it would be to never trust Michael Keaton. Not long ago, we reported on a story about a guy who approached Michael Keaton during dinner for an autograph and walked away from the conversation with some pretty interesting information. At the time, according to Keaton, Tim Burton was working on a script for Beetlejuice 2 and that, as soon as everyone was free, the project would move forward.

Well, turns out we were all Punk'd. IESB recently interviewed Burton and asked him whether or not there was any real truth behind a sequel to Beetlejuice. After laughing the question off, he politely responded that he was not working on a script, but figured someone out there was. In fact, he was convinced he had an evil twin confirming projects that never existed. Ahem...that would be us. Okay, so if there's no Beetlejuice sequel, perhaps he'll revisit another one of his classic films?

Um, no. When asked if he would ever consider a sequel to films like The Nightmare Before Christmas and/or Edward Scissorhands, Burton axed those rumors real fast claiming they were more personal and wanted to keep them as pure as possible. However, he did mention how fond he was of Edgar Allan Poe and left open the door to a Poe project in the near future. Currently, Burton is working on Believe It or Not, to which there is still no star attached. The director claims it is way too early for any casting decisions, though I'd suspect either Johnny Depp or Jim Carrey will nab the part.

I'm always amazed where some film gossip comes from. Usually, it's leaked through a studio spy or during an interview, but the following very interesting information comes to us via an autograph signing. While dining near Disneyland, a reader wrote into IESB to tell them about a conversation he had with Michael Keaton when asking for his signature.

Being the nice guy that he is, Keaton (one of my favorite actors, like, ever) answered a few questions about his upcoming projects and also put to rest those menacing Batman rumors. First off, when asked about playing the Joker in the next Batman flick, he says, "It's an interesting idea, but no way. The new Batman films are separated from the old Batman films."

However, he did note that "there's a big chance you'll see me in another Beetlejuice again." Apparently, Tim Burton is working on the script now, and after that it's just a matter of availability. I think it would be appropriate for me to say that this news is pretty freaking sweet! Keaton also mentioned that he'll have a role in Robert Rodriguez's part of Grindhouse which, right now, is being called Project Terror. I think I speak for everyone in front of my computer right now when I say I'll gladly give up Batman for Beetlejuice and Grindhouse. How about you?