Say it once, say it twice, say it three times and death beats life. This September, it is finally time for the sequel Beetlejuice: a wildly popular zany goth comedy from 35 years ago. The original film tells the story of a family that moves to a haunted house, causing the ghosts to seek professional help from a better ghost to evict them. A mean, green, haunting machine. A wormy libido in a split tuxedo. Squimin’ with the vermin, Beetlejuice hit the scene on the edge of the ’90s, paving the way for horror comedies like Death Becomes Her (1992) and So I Married and Axe Murderer (1993).
So, here’s all we know about one of the most anticipated sequels in movie history:
Which Cast Members Are Coming Back For Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice?
- Winona Ryder — Lydia Deetz
- Catherine O’Hara — Delia Deetz
- Michael Keaton — Beetlejuice
Which Actors Are New To Beetlejuice 2
- Monica Belluci
- William Defoe
- Jenna Ortega
- Gianni Calchetti
- Juliana Yazbeck
Winona Ryder (Stranger Things) is returning to her role as Lydia Deetz, now a grown-up goth and no longer the child-bride of the dead. The iconic Catherine O’Hara (Schitt’s Creek) is back as stepmother Delia Deetz, seen in the trailer sporting a pair of fantastic red gloves at the graveside, dressing up her funeral attire. Conspicuously absent is Jeffrey Jones, the original Charles Deetz. The actor was charged with possession of images depicting child sexual abuse in 2001, and is currently a registered sex offender in the state of California. Maybe it’s him in the coffin!
Missing also is Glenn Shadix as Uncle Otto. Sadly, Shadix (The Nightmare Before Christmas) passed in 2010.
Director Tim Burton has spoken about the possibility of a sequel to 1988’s Beetlejuice off and on since the film’s initial success, including the near-legendary possibility of Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian. However, Burton maintained that he would never reprise the ghost with the most unless Michael Keaton would return to the role. Keaton said in 2014 it was the only sequel he was interested in making.
Monica Belluci (The Matrix) and Willem Defoe (The Boondock Saints) are listed as principal cast members, but no names for their characters are given. These are marquee names; it seems unlikely that these folks would be left out of early promotional material, unless giving their names would somehow spoil the plot.
Warner Bros is keeping nearly silent as the grave about the plot. All we know so far is that the Deetz family has returned to the house that started it all. Lydia’s daughter Astrid (Jenna Ortega) discovers the same miniature of the city that’s been in the attic all these years, and somehow Beetlejuice returns. The film’s description states that a portal to the underworld is open. Casting supports the possibility of more eldritch bureaucracy in hell: Gianni Calchetti (Spider-Man: Far From Home) is listed as “Dead Suave Gentleman” and Juliana Yazbeck (The Expendables 4) is “Mummy Immigration Officer.” As the scenes of the infernal waiting room contain some of the best jokes and visual effects in the 1988 film, this portends good things for 2024.
Keaton’s only line in the teaser trailer is “The juice is loose,” alluding to both a 1990 Starburst TV ad campaign and subsequent jokes about football player turned violent hero to domestic abusers everywhere O.J. “The Juice” Simpson and his slow-moving police chase with the LAPD as he evaded arrest in 1994. However, despite this brief oration, Keaton is crusty and bloated in the makeup. Murder and mirth light his eyes. And he still comes when you call his name.
When Does Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Come Out?
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice will be in IMAX and theaters on September 6, 2024. The wait is almost over.