Thirty-six years after the original, and after years of pursuing different follow-up ideas, director Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice,” sequel, titled “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” is finally coming to theaters this year. Written by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, based on a story by Seth Grahame-Smith (Burton’s “Dark Shadows” and “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter”), not much is known about the film other than it’s a follow-up to the original, about a ghost who’s recruited to help haunt a house.
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On the plus side, we do know the cast. “Beetlejuice 2” stars, once again, Michael Keaton as the title character, Winona Ryder as Lydia Deetz, and Catherine O’Hara as Delia Deetz. That trio is joined by Jenna Ortega, who plays Astrid Deetz, Lydia’s daughter; Monica Bellucci as Beetlejuice’s wife; Willem Dafoe as a ghost detective; and Justin Theroux, Arthur Conti, Burn Gorman, and Filipe Cates in undisclosed roles.
The little plot has been revealed other than it takes place after a funeral and a death in the family. “That’s all I will say,” Burton told EW in a recent interview. “There’s something that happens that sets things in motion.” Perhaps that could be the death of Lydia’s father, Charles Deetz (Jeffrey Jones)? The director demurred. “We’ll see.”
Here’s the official synopsis:
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.
Burton came close to a “Beetlejuice” sequel in the ’80s but eventually got sidetracked with “Batman Returns.” Brad Pitt’s studio, Plan B Entertainment, is the producer of the film. Back for the sequel is composer Danny Elfman, and the cinematographer on the film is Haris Zambarloukos, known for working with Kenneth Branagh on films like “Death on the Nile,” “A Haunting in Venice” and “Thor.”
Michael Keaton recently raved about the film, telling Sirius XM, “[The sequel is exciting visually] and all that but really beautiful and interestingly emotional here and there. I wasn’t ready for that. It’s great.”
“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” is set for release by Warner Bros. Pictures on September 6, 2024. Watch the first trailer below.