"People told me I couldn't kill Nicholson, so I cast him in two roles and killed him off twice"

This quote by Tim Burton is a funny reference to his casting of actor Jack Nicholson in two of his films, Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992). In both films, Nicholson plays the villainous character of The Joker, and in both movies, The Joker satisfies his death. Burton is suggesting that individuals told him he could not "eliminate" Nicholson, implying he could not eliminate him as a star, so he discovered a way to do it by casting him in 2 roles and having him die in both. This quote is a testimony to Burton's imagination and his capability to believe outside the box. It likewise speaks to his adoration for Nicholson as a star, as he discovered a way to keep him in his movies while still having him pass away in both. Burton's quote is a humorous way of revealing his adoration for Nicholson and his own creativity.