The highly-anticipated sequel to director Tim Burton’s 1988 comedy “Beetlejuice” is set for theaters on September 6, 2024. The new film titled “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” brings back iconic characters like Michael Keaton as the mischievous ghost Betelgeuse. It also introduces new cast members like Jenna Ortega who plays Astrid, daughter of Winona Ryder’s returning character Lydia Deetz.
Ortega recently shared her experience meeting Keaton during an appearance on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.” She was undergoing a hair and makeup test when Keaton surprised her from behind. “He had molds peeling off his face as he introduced himself as Michael,” Ortega said. Though initially startled, Ortega said meeting Keaton the second time was awkward as she forgot their first encounter.
In addition to Keaton and Ryder returning, Catherine O’Hara also reprises her role. The story follows Astrid and Lydia returning home after a family loss, and their relationship strains as Astrid finds herself in the afterlife. To help her daughter, Lydia summons Betelgeuse for assistance.
At 64, Burton provides a new perspective on the franchise he helped create over 30 years ago. He calls the sequel a “weird family movie” influenced by his experiences like fatherhood. Filming faced delays from the 2023 writers’ strike but resumed in November to wrap shortly after. The cast also includes Justin Theroux, Willem Dafoe, Monica Bellucci, Burn Gorman, and a cameo by Danny DeVito as a zombie janitor.
Ortega describes her character Astrid as “weird, but different” from expectations. She looks forward to the unconventional story that will have audiences revisiting “weird, strange, off-putting” tales again. Though Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis from the original will not return, anticipation continues building for Burton’s fresh take on the beloved comedy from over 30 years ago.
