Beetlejuice 2: It’s been 34 years since Tim Burton’s beloved film Beetlejuice hit theaters, and talks of a sequel have been occurring pretty much ever since. The original film follows a recently deceased couple, Adam and Barbara Maitland (Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis), as they navigate the afterlife and try to spook the tacky new owners of their home, the Deetzes (Catherine O’Hara, Jeffrey Jones), into leaving. After their efforts fail, they hire a self-proclaimed “bio-exorcist” named Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton), whose shenanigans become dangerous for both the Maitlands and the Deetz’s daughter Lydia (Winona Ryder).
The movie spawned a number of offshoots, including an animated series that ran from 1989-1991, a handful of video games, and a well-received Broadway musical that premiered in 2019 and is set to reopen in April 2022. Beetlejuice has had such a lasting impact since its release that it’s hard to believe there hasn’t been a sequel before now. After 30 years of starts and stops, it seems as though plans are finally moving forward. Plan B Entertainment, Brad Pitt’s production company, has signed on to make our collection dreams come true. Read on to learn everything we know so far about Beetlejuice 2.
Is there going to be a Beetlejuice 2 movie?
All signs point to yes! Pitt’s production company signing onto the project is a big step forward, although hollywood has reported that “it hasn’t been brought to Warner Bros. for an official greenlight just yet.” That outlet also claims Keaton and Ryder have officially signed on.
Who will write the Beetlejuice sequel?
While Plan B Entertainment has come aboard to produce the sequel, don’t expect details or leaks about the movie anytime soon. Shortly after Beetlejuice became a success, Burton hired British screenwriter Jonathan Gems (Mars Attacks) to write a screenplay called Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian. The plot would involve the Deetzes in Hawaii, where Charles’ real estate development company is building a resort on an ancient burial ground. Hijinks would have no doubt ensued. Both Keaton and Ryder agreed to this sequel as long as Burton-directed, but Burton went with Batman Returns instead. By the time he returned to Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian it was already the mid-90s and enthusiasm had waned.
Interest was renewed in 2011, however, when Warner Bros. approached Seth Grahame-Smith (best known for his parody novel Pride & Prejudice & Zombies, who also worked with Burton on the adaptation of his book Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter) to write and produce a Beetlejuice sequel. Grahame-Smith agreed on the condition that Keaton reprise his role. Over the next few years, the principals involved in the original movie would affirm their commitment to working on a sequel, but Warner Bros. shelved the project in 2019, around the time the Broadway musical opened. No explicit reason was given.
Who will be in the Beetlejuice 2 cast?
Rumor has it that yes, Ryder and Keaton will be reprising their roles for the Beetlejuice sequel. Ryder has been interested in returning to Lydia Deetz from the beginning, telling The Daily Beast in 2013, “I love Lydia Deetz so much. She was such a huge part of me. I would be really interested in what she is doing 27 years later.” Ryder credits Burton and Beetlejuice for her career, saying she gets recognized for it even now.
The only stars of the original Beetlejuice movie mentioned so far are Ryder and Keaton. Whether the other stars of the original movie will reprise their roles might depend on what direction the plot of the sequel will take.
When will Beetlejuice 2 be released?
The official green light from Warner Bros. hasn’t happened yet, so there’s no word on when we can expect the movie. Plans to start shooting this summer are underway, according to The Ankler.
There Has Been A Lot of Speculation Lately About “Beetlejuice 2” and Johnny Depp Starring in it.
— 80sThen80sNow (@80sThen80sNow) June 6, 2022
If These Rumors Turn Out to Be True, Would You Watch It?#Beetlejuice2 #Beetlejuice #Timburton #JohnnyDepp
Photo Credit: Artist Alex Murillo pic.twitter.com/rsqAs6rAcv
Will Tim Burton direct Beetlejuice 2?
Burton directed the original and it is hard to imagine a Beetlejuice world without his iconic aesthetic involved somehow. Grahame-Smith did meet with Burton as recently as five years ago about the project, and Burton himself said in 2016 that he would helm the movie under the right conditions. “It’s something that I really would like to do in the right circumstances, but it’s one of those films where it has to be right,” Burton told Collider in 2016. “It’s not a kind of a movie that cries out [for a sequel], it’s not the Beetlejuice trilogy. So it’s something that if the elements are right—because I do love the character and Michael’s amazing as that character, so yeah we’ll see. But there’s nothing concrete yet.”
Where can I watch Beetlejuice?
The 1988 classic is available to rent or buy on a variety of different platforms, including Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV, Vudu, and Google Play
