The buzz around Beetlejuice 2 has been nothing short of electric, with fans eagerly anticipating the return to Tim Burton’s quirky, ghostly world. The film was on track for a September 2024 release, but recent events – you probably know which ones – have thrown a wrench in the works.
Filming for the upcoming sequel kicked off in May, but the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike in Hollywood has brought production grinding to a halt. This has inevitably led to whispers and speculations about a potential delay in the release date.
Now, according to Variety, Beetlejuice 2 is among several Warner Bros. productions that could be pushed back to 2025 or beyond if the strike continues and production doesn’t resume in the next few weeks. Those executives sure don’t want to pay talent their worth, huh?
Fortunately, director Tim Burton has revealed that the film is “99 percent done,” needing just a day and a half more of shooting to wrap up. This would put Beetlejuice 2 in a unique position compared to other films affected by the strike. With the writers’ strike now resolved, there’s a good chance the film could still meet its original release date.
Michael Keaton is set to reprise his role as the chaotic demon, and he’ll be joined by familiar faces like Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara. Rising star Jenna Ortega will be one of the new cast members joining the franchise, in addition to filmmaker Justin Theroux and veteran actor Willem Dafoe.
Beetlejuice 2’s subject matter makes it a perfect fit for a Halloween-adjacent theatrical run, and Warner Bros. would be wise to stick to the original plan if at all possible. Unfortunately, the ongoing strike and the need to reschedule other delayed projects could force the studio’s hand, regardless of how close Beetlejuice 2 is to completion.
Other films that will reportedly get delayed if the actors’ strike is not resolved include Robert De Niro’s mob drama Wise Guys, Sony’s untitled Venom 2 sequel, Venom 3, and Universal’s epic disaster film, Twisters.
Beetlejuice is considered to be one of Tim Burton’s best works. Released in 1998, the horror comedy film became a critical and commercial success, grossing $74.7 million from a modest production budget of $15 million. It also bagged an Academy Award for Best Makeup, something Burton will be aiming to replicate in the sequel.
Since its debut, Beetlejuice has birthed an animated TV series, inspired four video games, and even made its mark on Broadway with a stage musical adaptation.
