Tim Burton Says Gathering ‘Beetlejuice’ Team for Sequel “Was Like a Weird Family Reunion” (2024)

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Somebody in Sin City must’ve whispered his name three times because Beetlejuice manifested on the Colosseum stage at Caesars Palace Tuesday afternoon.

During Warner Bros. Pictures’ CinemaCon presentation, Tim Burton and the stars of his upcoming Beetlejuice Beetlejuice turned up to rousing applause from the capacity crowd gathered for the annual National Association of Theater Owners convention. Burton walked out first and said getting his Beetlejuice family together again was like “a big weird family reunion.”

As such, he was quickly joined by the film’s Michael Keaton, Catherine O’Hara, Willem Dafoe, Justin Theroux and Monica Bellucci. (Upon walking on stage, Keaton joked, “I wasn’t alerted to the dress code” as everyone on his film was dressed in shades of black.) Stars Winona Ryder and Jenna Ortega could not attend due to production schedules on their current projects, confirmed Warner Bros. chief Michael DeLuca who was joined onstage by his counterpart, Pamela Abdy, to introduce the film and ask questions of Burton and his actors.

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Beetlejuice Beetlejuice stars Ortega opposite Keaton, back as the grotesque ghost, with Ryder returning as Lydia Deetz, who is now a mother to Ortega’s character. O’Hara also returns with new additions Dafoe, Theroux and Bellucci rounding out the cast. The screenplay was written by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar from a story by the pair with Seth Grahame-Smith.

The story picks up as the Deetz family has returned home to Winter River following an unexpected family tragedy. Still haunted by Beetlejuice, Lydia’s life is turned upside down when her rebellious teenage daughter, Astrid, played by Ortega, discovers the mysterious model of the town in the attic, accidentally opening the portal to the afterlife. With trouble now in both realms, it’s only a matter of time until someone summons Beetlejuice, who returns to unleash his distinct brand of mayhem.

Burton said he started thinking about a sequel basically since the last one was released in 1988, and he has revisited the idea over the years as he pondered how people’s lives change. “I got interested in what happened to the Deetz family,” said Burton, who also introduced a new trailer after saying that he couldn’t show much as he has to head back to London tomorrow to finish the film. (One memorable line from the new footage finds Ryder’s Lydia offering, “The living. The dead. Can they co-exist? That’s what we’re here to find out.”)

Keaton continued the thought and said he and Burton have kicked around the notion of a sequel many times over the years. “Finally it got right,” Keaton said, adding that it was a combination of timing and the quality of the script meeting a moment. “Frankly, I just followed his lead.” Then Keaton admitted that he’s seen the film twice already: “I have to tell you this though, it’s really f*cking good.”

Though Ortega was absent, she received some shine from the stage as Burton said he was impressed that she went straight from Disney movies into the horror genre (like Scream). Keaton said the young star also never had to be reminded of the tone or how to navigate the Beetlejuice world, “she just got it.”

The showing comes nearly three weeks after Warners debuted the first trailer for the film, a sequel to the 1988 original that starred Keaton opposite Winona Ryder, O’Hara, Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis. The clip has now been viewed north of 16 million times.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuicearrives Sept. 6, after a very long road to the screen. Burton has long talked about tackling another installment, and it finally came together early last year with Ortega on board. The film further brings Ortega into Burton’s world, as she is the star ofWednesday, the blockbuster series for Netflix that he directed on and produced.

“It’s been quite an insane experience. I’ve been lucky enough to get the opportunity to work with an iconic director who just so happens to be one of the sweetest directors I’ve worked with, and also the most detail-oriented,” Ortega previously toldThe Hollywood Reporterof her collaborations with Burton.

Beetlejuice also inspired the ensembles of Warner Bros. executives Jeff Goldstein and Andrew Cripps, who opened the studio’s presentation on Tuesday by stepping out on stage in black-and-white striped suits, black ties and electrified white wigs. (Last year, the pair donned suits in Barbie pink). “Good afterlife,” Goldstein said, with Cripps interjecting, “You mean, good afternoon.” Goldstein then asked the capacity crowd to decide who wore it better by a showing of applause. For the record: Goldstein won to which Cripps quipped, “They’re just shocked you have hair.” A burn so good there’s no doubt Beetlejuice would approve.

Tim Burton Says Gathering ‘Beetlejuice’ Team for Sequel “Was Like a Weird Family Reunion” (2024)

FAQs

Why is Geena Davis not in Beetlejuice 2? ›

Because my theory is that ghosts don't age … Not that I have.” In the original film, Davis appeared as ghost Barbara Maitland, who is seen by Winona Ryder's character, Lydia Deetz. “Our characters were stuck the way they looked when they died forever, so it's been a while, it's been a minute,” Davis said.

Who turned down the role of Beetlejuice? ›

Interestingly enough, Keaton actually turned down the role when he was first pitched the film by Burton. In a 2014 interview with Charlie Rose, he talked about his first meetings with Burton and the difficulty of understanding what the project was even attempting to do.

Did Tim Burton help with Beetlejuice? ›

Beetlejuice is a 1988 American fantasy horror comedy film directed by Tim Burton from a screenplay by Michael McDowell and Warren Skaaren based on a story by McDowell and Larry Wilson. The film stars Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Jeffrey Jones, Catherine O'Hara, Winona Ryder, and Michael Keaton as the title character.

Will Tim Burton direct Beetlejuice 2? ›

Yes! Tim Burton, who helmed the original, reprised his role as director.

What does Brad Pitt have to do with Beetlejuice 2? ›

The sequel has been been discussed for many years by cast Winona Ryder and Micheal Keaton and director Tim Burton, but it was officially confirmed in February 2022. Deadline reported that Brad Pitt's Plan B Entertainment company are producing the film alongside Warner Bros – so exciting!

Why aren't Barbara and Adam in Beetlejuice 2? ›

The ghostly couple is now only about 35 years into the afterlife, so they still have 90 years remaining in their house. As such, one of the few plausible ways to explain Adam and Barbara being gone during Beetlejuice 2's events is that they're in the Neitherworld waiting room.

Why was Sophia fired from Beetlejuice? ›

Caruso's press agent, Carleen Donovan, says the actress “exercised her contractual out to pursue television work and was not fired from the show.” In an email to the cast last week, the show's producers wrote, “After several conversations, [Caruso] has decided . . . to pursue television work.

What was Beetlejuice before he died? ›

We know that Beetlejuice used to work as the assistant to the caseworker Juno, which means he killed himself, since all undead civil servants committed suicide. Beetlejuice was Bozman, and he killed himself after his building was completed in 1835.

Why was Lydia suicidal in Beetlejuice? ›

Later in Beetlejuice, Lydia even writes a suicide note, furthering the notion that she isn't afraid of death and doesn't ignore her mortality. Lydia wanted to die so that she could live with Adam and Barbara in the attic for the next 125 years, so she certainly isn't ignorant to the fact that she'll die one day.

Is Robert Downey Jr. in Beetlejuice 2? ›

"With Beetlejuice now on the loose in Los Angles, California where Lydia's husband 'Alex Loughty' (Robert Downey Jr.) works, the Loughty Family must come together to defeat the ghost with the most once again..."

Is Johnny Depp in Beetlejuice 2? ›

After a long wait and a lot of speculation about it, Beetlejuice 2 is officially happening with Tim Burton back as director and Michael Keaton reprising his role as the title character, but the casting of one main actor proves Burton has found Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter's replacements.

Did Beetlejuice have a disability? ›

He had this nickname when he was part of a Dwarf Tossing act, which is how he got on the show. Suffers from microcephaly, an abnormally small head and brain. In his case, this is accompanied by mental retardation and small stature (4' 3"), though he does not have the disproportionate limb size associated with dwarfism.

Who is playing Beetlejuice in 2024? ›

Michael Keaton returns as the foul-mouthed, shape-shifting ghoul joined by new cast members Jenna Ortega, Willem Dafoe, Monica Bellucci and Justin Theroux. Also reprising their roles from the original film are Winona Ryder and Catherine O'Hara.

Is Michael Keaton going to play in Beetlejuice 2? ›

In addition to Keaton, original “Beetlejuice” Winona Ryder and Catherine O'Hara are back as Lydia and Delia Deetz, respectively. Jenna Ortega rounds out the family as newcomer Astrid Deetz.

Why is Jeffrey Jones not in Beetlejuice 2? ›

However, a representative for Jones confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that he will not appear in Beetlejuice 2. It was only 21 years ago that the actor was convicted for soliciting a minor after he pleaded no contest to hiring a 14-year-old boy pose naked for photographs.

Who does Geena Davis play in Beetlejuice? ›

Geena Davis has explained why she won't be appearing in the long-awaited Beetlejuice sequel. The actor, 68, starred in the 1988 film as Barbara Maitland, a young homeowner who dies in a car accident alongside her husband.

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