You Said His Name 3 Times Didn’t You? ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ Is Coming!

BEETLEJUICE, Michael Keaton, 1988
Everett Collection

Did you say his name three times? That’s right, Beetlejuice is back, baby! The highly-anticipated film Beetlejuice 2 is coming this fall, just in time for the spooky season. Warner Bros. has officially set a theatrical premiere date for the film of September 6, 2024. Tim Burton is working on the sequel to his 1988 film, which catapulted him to a new level of fame. There have been talks about a sequel for literal decades but nothing stuck until now. Of course, the first film led to an animated series and a Beetlejuice musical that is currently on tour but fans likely cannot wait for a second round of hilarious horror in movie form.

As of now, the casting process is underway but we can confirm that original star Michael Keaton (Beetlejuice) and Wednesday star Jenna Ortega (she will play Lydia’s daughter) have signed on for the movie. In addition, Winona Ryder will reprise her role as Lydia, and Justin Theroux has also been cast. Composer Danny Elfman, who often teams up with Burton for his films, will create the music.

BEETLEJUICE, Geena Davis, Michael Keaton, Alec Baldwin, 1988

Everett Collection

While it is exciting to learn about some of the casting news, there have been no details shared about the plot thus far. The first movie starts with the story of a couple, Adam (Alec Baldwin) and Barbara (Geena Davis) who unfortunately die in a car accident and are now stuck in their home as ghosts. They don’t really mind until a new family moves into their home and they try to devise a plan to get rid of them so they can have their privacy once again.

BEETLEJUICE, Winona Ryder, 1988

Everett Collection

Their plan involves Betelgeuse (the character’s true name, but it made sense to market the film as Beetlejuice instead), a villain who exorcises humans instead of ghosts. He proves himself as untrustworthy and Adam and Barbara try to scare the family out of the home themselves but the daughter Lydia (Ryder) can actually see them. Lydia’s father Charles (Jeffrey Jones) and stepmother Delia (Catherine O’Hara) try to bring the ghosts into the real world but this would wipe them out completely. Lydia summons Betelgeuse and agrees to marry him in order to save Adam and Barbara. Ultimately, they are able to stop Betelgeuse, and the last we saw of him he was nine millionths in line for an appointment in the afterlife.

BEETLEJUICE, Michael Keaton (center), 1988

Warner Brothers/Everett Collection

The film is currently available to stream on HBO Max if you’re in need of a refresher before the new film comes out. We will keep updating this piece as new information, photos, and trailers are released. Here’s to hoping that the Banana Boat song by Harry Belafonte will make an appearance in the second film, but if not, we always have this classic moment!

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October 2020

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