The arrival of Beetlejuice 2 comes 36 years after Tim Burton's original movie was released, and it was a long, complicated road for the sequel to officially happen. For avid fans wishing for a follow-up, it has been years of holding out hope that something would come to fruition and hanging on to every rumor or update. Considering Beetlejuice's lasting legacy and how it's considered one of Tim Burton's best movies, it's hard to believe it took decades for the sequel to happen. But based on Beetlejuice 2's story, maybe it was better off waiting.
Not only is Burton returning to direct Beetlejuice 2, but it's also a reunion of sorts for Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, and Catherine O'Hara, three stars of the first movie in 1988. Beetlejuice 2's cast also managed to acquire a few other heavy-hitters in Monica Bellucci, Justin Theroux, and Jenna Ortega, who has previously worked with Burton on Netflix's Wednesday. In fact, Burton decided to make the Beetlejuice sequel while working on Wednesday since it reignited his passion for his beloved project in the late '80s, which happens to be when development on the sequel began.
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Beetlejuice 2 will feature a new character dynamic for Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder which could potentially mirror another Tim Burton project.
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Beetlejuice 2 Has Been In Development Since The Original Movie Released In 1988
Development Was Fast-Tracked
Following the positive reception to Beetlejuice when it debuted in March 1988, development of a sequel began almost immediately. While scripts were being written, Burton and Keaton re-teamed and shifted focus to Batman. The filmmaker then reunited with Ryder for Edward Scissorhands before the Batman sequel, Batman Returns, in 1992. Development on a sequel didn't necessarily stop through the '90s, but the Beetlejuice 2 project was seemingly left on the backburner until Seth Grahame-Smith came on board to write the script in 2011. Even with rumblings of returning cast members like Keaton and Ryder, Warner Bros. put an indefinite pause on the sequel in 2019.
What Happened To Tim Burton's Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian Idea
The Hawaii Idea Was A Possibility For Years
Aside from an idea for a sequel involving Keaton's character and a man who fell off the Eiffel Tower while proposing, the most notable unmade Beetlejuice sequel took the bio-exorcist to Hawaii. The project, titled Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian, would have been a direct sequel to the 1988 movie, following the Deetz family after they relocated to Hawaii, where they would reencounter Keaton's character. This time, Beetlejuice was summoned after an ancient burial ground was disturbed by the construction of a new resort developed by Charles.
the idea for Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian was eventually scrapped due to the availability of the cast and crew
Though cast members were interested in returning for the new tropical take on the franchise, Burton's focus on his Batman movies stalled development. A few years later, the idea for Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian was eventually scrapped due to the availability of the cast and crew. The project could have been recast, especially for the role of Lydia, but Ryder was clearly deemed a vital piece for Beetlejuice 2, just like Keaton, who Burton has proven could be the only actor to embody "the ghost with the most."
What Tim Burton & The Cast Have Said About Beetlejuice 2 Taking So Long
Major Cast Members Have Always Had Interest In Returning For Another Beetlejuice Movie
During the 2010s, when Seth Grahame-Smith was developing the sequel with Burton, a lot of progress was made, and it seemed like the project could finally happen. Ahead of shelving the sequel in 2019, Ryder had publicly confirmed that she would be returning to play Lydia. That ended up happening, but it took another three years for Beetlejuice 2 to actually be confirmed by Warner Bros., and it took even longer to confirm Burton's return as director.
the development of a Beetlejuice sequel for the new generation became a very personal project for Burton
Despite the push and development over the past few decades, Tim Burton stated (via Gizmodo) that the delay was due to the fact that "nothing clicked and truly, it couldn’t have happened until now." The director then explained how he reminisced about the Lydia character and where she would be 35 years after Beetlejuice's ending. Seeing as his own life inspired Lydia's characterization, the development of a Beetlejuice sequel for the new generation became a very personal project for Burton. The story also allowed Burton to focus on three generations of the Deetz family in a truly organic way.
Michael Keaton previously revealed (via People) that he and Burton discussed the possibility of a sequel many times over the years. They both agreed that they could only do a sequel if done right before moving on with their respective careers. Interestingly, Winona Ryder may have been the most adamant to return for another Beetlejuice movie. Not only did she meet with Burton on several occasions to discuss the follow-up, but Ryder even had a condition in her Stranger Things contract that would have allowed her to do the sequel. Her faith in Beetlejuice 2 paid off shortly after.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
PG-13
- Director
- Tim Burton
- Release Date
- September 6, 2024
- Distributor(s)
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- Cast
- Michael Keaton , Jenna Ortega , Winona Ryder , Monica Bellucci , Willem Dafoe , Justin Theroux , Catherine O'Hara
- Runtime
- 104 Minutes
