Tim Burton’s cult classic film, Beetlejuice, which featured Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder, among others, is coming back for a sequel many decades later.
According to Variety, Beetlejuice 2 will hit theaters on September 6, 2024, as it hopes to take advantage of the same Labor Day weekend box office surge that benefitted recent hits like Top Gun: Maverick and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, among others.
The original 1988 film featured a quirky mix of comedy and horror that instantly turned the film into a well-loved classic. It starred Michael Keaton as the titular character, telling the story of a ghost who wreaks havoc on the lives of a recently deceased couple and the new inhabitants of their former home.
The sequel is hoping to bring back the original’s unique charm and wit. The good news is that Micheal Keaton is confirmed to return with new-age Scream queen, Jenna Ortega, joining the cast as the daughter of Lydia Deetz, the character originally played by Winona Ryder.
Ortega has stolen the spotlight wherever she’s going in recent years and Beetlejuice 2 should prove no exception. Ortega is fresh off the success of Netflix’s Wednesday, which is getting a second season after posting record-high streaming numbers, and Scream 6, which is all but certain to get a sequel.
Her addition should help bring a fresh perspective to the mix to create the perfect fusion of modern and classic talent.
The exact plot details of Beetlejuice 2 are being kept under wraps but it’s clear it’s aiming to honor the original’s spirit.
It’s unclear how the ongoing WGA Hollywood writers’ strike, which has already affected the production of Marvel’s Blade as well as a Game of Thrones spin-off, among others, could impact the production. But, given that Warner Bros. announced the release date at this time, it’s only reasonable to expect that production has gone forward as planned.
In the meantime, Michael Keaton’s fans can look forward to seeing him return to the big screen as another one of his iconic characters when the much-ballyhooed The Flash hits theaters on June 16.
