Danny Elfman, the legendary composer whose music featured in the original Beetlejuice movie, has told the press that production is gearing up on Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice 2. In addition, he has dropped some big hints that filming for the horror comedy sequel will happen very soon.
In an interview with Deadline, Elfman talked about the return of Michael Keaton to the titular role. The film will be a prequel to the 1998 film. Even though Keaton will be thirty-five years older than in the first movie, he will play a younger character. Many will wonder how that is going to be possible. However, Elfman pointed out that his character in Beetlejuice was already one hundred and fifty, so anything is possible.
In the interview, he spoke about the filmmaking collaboration between Tim Burton and himself. He said,
“I love being a fly on the wall when he’s shooting. I’ll be doing that in a couple of months, as you may know”.
He added, “That is very exciting to return to that world”.
That world is the Beetlejuice universe. In March, the story broke that Beetlejuice 2 was in active development, with Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder reprising their roles as Betelgeuse and Lydia Deetz. In addition, Beetlejuice footage was included in CinemaCon 2023 panel. However, Elman’s latest interview gives real credence to the rumours that the new film is more than just a pipe dream.
The long-awaited sequel to Beetlejuice has been called one of the most infamous “developmental hell” stories. As far back as 1990, there has been talk of a sequel being made. Everyone thought one was going to get into the can in 2011, but that did not happen. However, with 80’s and 90’s nostalgia on the rise, the project has become a priority for Warner.
Elfman says that Michael Keaton will not look much different than he did in the original film.
“That’s the beauty of the Beetlejuice makeup. He already looked like he was 150 in the first one. It’s perfect, you know? Everybody else has to play the next generation, except for Michael.”
He added,
“I mean, he’s still like really fit and really active and really on it. And with the Beetlejuice makeup, I can’t even imagine it’s going to look like he’s changed practically at all. So, I can’t wait for that.”
Beetlejuice was a hugely popular movie that achieved something of a cult status. Keaton plays the role of Betelgeuse, a trickster and mischievous ghost. He is a bio-exorcist called in from the Netherworld to help a recently deceased couple scare away the house’s new inhabitants. The film led to an animated TV series, a Broadway musical and even an online slot game which can be played at new slot sites like Casushi. The game features the original soundtrack from the film, is creepy and stays true to the iconic movie.
Beetlejuice 2 has enormous boots to fill. It is thought that the filming will be in London. There is talk of the shoot starting as early as May and June this year. Keaton confirmed he wanted to be involved in 2014, and the script was rewritten in 2017. Jenna Ortega, who starred in Burton’s Addams Family spin-off for Netflix, is reportedly in talks to join the cast. It is believed she will play Lydia’s daughter (the character played by Winona Ryder in the original film.
Beetlejuice also starred Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Jeffrey Jones and Catherine O’Hara. It grossed $80 million and had a production budget of $15 million. In 1989 it won an Oscar at the Academy Awards for the best makeup.
The deadlines for rumoured production are now so close that fans will not have to wait much longer to find out what is truth and what is wishful thinking. But, of course, being a Beetlejuice movie, there is still the outside chance that the deadline will slip and fans will be left waiting again. However, there is not long to wait now before we can see if the latest speculation is true.
