Thirty-five years after the release of the Tim Burton-directed classic Beetlejuice (watch it HERE), production is officially underway on a sequel – and while we haven’t seen any official images from Beetlejuice 2 yet, set pics did give us our first look at Winona Ryder, back in the role of Lydia Deetz, a couple months ago. And now more set pics have revealed the first look at the character being played by Jenna Ortega, who previously worked with Burton on the hit Netflix series Wednesday. Images of Ortega’s character, Lydia’s daughter, can be seen in Twitter embeds at the bottom of this article.
Beetlejuice 2 was in development hell for decades. In 1990, Jonathan Gems was hired to write a sequel that was going to be titled Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian. Burton considered having Daniel Waters rewrite that script, Pamela Norris did rewrite it, and Warner Bros. offered Kevin Smith the chance to do another rewrite. He turned it down. Seth Grahame-Smith was hired to write and produce a new version of a sequel in 2011. Mike Vukadinovich was brought on to rewrite his script in 2017.
Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, co-creators and co-showrunners of Wednesday, have written the screenplay for Beetlejuice 2 that is actually being filmed. Plot details are being kept under wraps. Brad Pitt’s Plan B is producing the sequel, which is filming in London.
In addition to Ryder reprising the role of Lydia and Ortega playing her daughter, Beetlejuice 2 also stars Catherine O’Hara, back as Lydia’s stepmother Delia; Monica Bellucci as Beetlejuice’s wife, Willem Dafoe as a law enforcement officer in the afterlife, and Justin Theroux in an unspecified role. Of course, Michael Keaton is reprising the role of Beetlejuice.
Written by Michael McDowell and Warren Skaaren from a story McDowell crafted with Larry Wilson, the original Beetlejuice has the following synopsis: What’s a yuppie ghost couple to do when their quaint New England home is overrun by trendy New Yorkers? They hire a freelance ‘bio-exorcist’ to spook the intruders. And everyone gets more than he, she or it bargained for! Director Tim Burton teams with Michael Keaton. The result? ‘Keaton’s Beetlejuice is one of the biggest, baddest wolves a ghost movie has ever unleashed, a polter-gas’ (The Village Voice). He’s a juggernaut of jokes, jolts and jive who hurls one-liners, spins into grotesque forms, gobbles insects and can’t leave ladies (living or dead) alone. So exorcise your right to fun. Say the ‘B’ word three times and have a wonderful Day-O!
Beetlejuice 2 is heading toward a September 6, 2024 theatrical release. Are you looking forward to the movie? Let us know by leaving a comment below – and while you’re scrolling down, take a look at these images of Jenna Ortega’s character:
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