What To Expect From Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

4 months ago

Everything we know so far about the long-awaited sequel

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Beetlejuice fans have been waiting rather a while for a sequel to the film – 36 years, to be exact. Tim Burton’s horror-fantasy-comedy classic first came out in 1988, and although he began planning a follow-up just a couple of years later, it ended up taking decades to actually make it happen. But finally, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice – aka Beetlejuice 2 – is set to hit cinemas this year, with a star-studded cast which will see some of the originals reprising their roles. Here’s everything we know so far.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice: Plot, Cast, Release Date & More

What Will Happen In Beetlejuice Beetlejuice?

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice will return to the Deetz family many years after the first film, exploring the family dynamics in the modern world and introducing the new Deetz generation. With dark humour and the supernatural once again at the fore, we meet Lydia Deetz’s (Winona Ryder) daughter, Astrid, played by Wednesday star Jenna Ortega, as the mischievous Betelgeuse ghost (Michael Keaton) causes chaos once again.

The official synopsis from Warner Bros says: ‘Beetlejuice is back! After an unexpected family tragedy, three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River. Still haunted by Beetlejuice, Lydia’s life is turned upside down when her rebellious teenage daughter, Astrid, discovers the mysterious model of the town in the attic and the portal to the Afterlife is accidentally opened. With trouble brewing in both realms, it’s only a matter of time until someone says Beetlejuice’s name three times and the mischievous demon returns to unleash his very own brand of mayhem.’

When it came out in 1988, the first Beetlejuice was a box-office hit – and it has gone on to become a cult classic. The film tells the story of suburban couple Barbara (Geena Davis) and Adam Maitland (Alec Baldwin) who die on their way to their Connecticut country house. They find themselves stuck haunting the residence, and when the Deetz family buy the property, they attempt to scare them away – attracting a spirit called Betelgeuse (Michael Keaton) to assist. But Betelgeuse has other ideas…

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Trailer

As you can see, plenty of stars of the original film are returning for Beetlejuice 2, including Keaton as Betelgeuse, Winona Ryder as Lydia Deetz, and Catherine O’Hara as Delia Deetz. Keaton has spoken about his excitement about the sequel, saying: ‘It’s so fun, it’s so great. And you know what it is? We’re doing it exactly like we did the first movie. [Tim Burton] and I were talking about it years and years ago, never telling anybody. We’ve both said we’re doing it many times. We both agreed, if it happens, it has to be done as close to the way we made it the first time. Making stuff up, making stuff happen, improvising and riffing, but literally handmade stuff like people creating things with their hands and building something.’

While there are plenty of returners, the next generation spook queen Jenna Ortega will also star. Playing Lydia’s daughter, Astrid, Ortega has previously worked with Burton on Netflix series Wednesday – which went on to become one of the platform’s biggest shows. Speaking about her character in an interview with Vanity Fair, she said: ‘she’s weird, but in a different way and not in the way you’d assume, I would say. And it’s also really strange because it’s a lot of catching up and putting the pieces together of what’s gone on in Lydia’s life since, which is nice, I think, for anybody who loves the character and is excited to see her again.’

Ortega will be joined by a number of other new additions including Monica Bellucci, Willem Dafoe and Justin Theroux.

JENNA ORTEGA as Astrid in Warner Bros. Pictures’ comedy, “BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.

Why Aren’t The Maitlands In Beetlejuice 2?

The first Beetlejuice begins with the deaths of newlyweds Barbara and Adam Maitland, played by Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin respectively – but the stars will not return for the sequel. There has not been an official statement on this, but it’s probably down to a combination of factors. Namely, it has been 36 years since the first film and the Maitlands are supposed to be never-ageing ghosts. Davis commented on this in April 2024, telling Entertainment Tonight: ‘Our characters were stuck the way they looked when they died forever, so it’s been a while, it’s been a minute.’ Meanwhile, Baldwin has been embroiled in the Rust scandal. Filming for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice began in May 2023, just one month after involuntary manslaughter charges were initially dropped against Baldwin, who accidentally shot and killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins when he discharged a prop gun; in January 2024, the charges we reactivated, before being dropped in July.

Jeffrey Jones, who plays Lydia’s father Charles in the first film, also won’t return for Beetlejuice 2; as of 2002, he is a convicted sex offender.

(L-R) WINONA RYDER as Lydia and MICHAEL KEATON as Beetlejuice in Warner Bros. Pictures’ comedy, “BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release. © 2024 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Why Has Beetlejuice 2 Taken So Long?

It’s been a long road to getting Beetlejuice 2 off the road – but this wasn’t for a lack of trying. Back in 1990, Burton allegedly hired a writer to pen the script for a sequel called Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian, which would have seen the Deetz family moving to Hawaii to develop a resort (located on a burial ground, naturally). However, this never came to fruition.

In 2011, Warner Bros. had another attempt at a sequel, enlisting Seth Grahame-Smith to work on the script. But in 2019, this one was shelved too. Fast forward to 2022, and a new movie was announced – this time with Brad Pitt’s studio Plan B Entertainment, alongside Warner Bros. Finally, this one actually made it through to production, with filming kicking off in May 2023.

(L-r) WINONA RYDER as Lydia and JUSTIN THEROUX as Rory in Warner Bros. Pictures’ comedy, “BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release. © 2024 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Where Was It Filmed?

Beetlejuice 2 was filmed in the US and the UK in 2023. It kicked off at Princess Helena College, a private school in Herfordshire, England, before crossing the Atlantic and continuing in Massachusetts and Vermont. Beetlejuice 2 returned also to East Corinth, Vermont, where the first film’s exterior scenes were shot.