‘Beetlejuice 2’: Warner Bros. Drops First Teaser For The Sequel

After a long 36 years, the enigmatic Michael Keaton is resurrecting his iconic role as Beetlejuice in the long-awaited sequel to the cult classic, as revealed in Entertainment Weekly’s exclusive sneak peek. Joining Keaton in this eagerly anticipated sequel are familiar faces, Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara, alongside new additions to the cast such as Jenna Ortega and Justin Theroux.

The original ‘Beetlejuice,’ which hit screens in 1988, followed the misadventures of Barbara and Adam Maitland, portrayed by Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin, as they sought the help of the zany Beetlejuice to reclaim their home from the Deetz family. Fast forward to the sequel, and we find ourselves years later after a tragic family loss, setting the stage for a whole new set of eerie events.

Also Read: ‘Beetlejuice’ Sequel: Everything You Need to Know

Director Tim Burton tantalizes Entertainment Weekly with a glimpse into the sequel’s mysterious plot, hinting at the possible demise of Lydia’s father, Charles Deetz. Burton showers praise on Keaton’s seamless return to the beloved character, remarking, “It was kind of scary for somebody who was maybe not that overly interested in doing it. It was such a beautiful thing for me to see all the cast, but he, sort of like demon possession, just went right back into it.”

Despite initial reluctance from Keaton, the emotional draw of reuniting the Deetz women—Lydia, Delia, and Astrid—proved irresistible. Burton explains to EW, “I think we all felt the same way. It only made sense if it had an emotional hook.”

Burton acknowledges the myriad sequel ideas that have been tossed around over the years, including titles like ‘Beetlejuice and the Haunted Mansion’ or ‘Beetlejuice Goes West.’ However, finding the right concept to propel the story forward was paramount.

While details about the film’s plot remain shrouded in mystery, snippets about the roles of Monica Bellucci, Arthur Conti and Willem Dafoe have emerged. Dafoe, for instance, revealed he portrays a B-movie action star turned police officer in the Afterlife.

Burton confirms the nostalgic use of stop-motion animation for classic ‘Beetlejuice’ effects, aiming to infuse the film with a handcrafted charm that harks back to his earliest filmmaking days. As for the title, ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ was chosen for its simplicity, eschewing the conventional sequel naming conventions.

‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ is slated to hit theatres on 6th September.