After 36 years away from the beloved Beetlejuice, Tim Burton has graced cinema screens with the highly anticipated sequel Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. With the iconic Catherine O’Hara and Winona Ryder coming back for the sequel, audiences are pondering whether this remake will live up to the classic dark comedy they know and love.
The Original Beetlejuice
The 1988 Beetlejuice was only the second directorial piece by Tim Burton, yet it helped solidify his status in the world of dark comedy and horror. Based on the screenplay by Michael McDowell, Beetlejuice explores the experience of the Deetz family who move into a home unaware the previous tenants are recently deceased and are grappling with the after-life. In a bid to scare them away, the previous tenants employ the help of the infamous Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton) and chaos ensues.
The Tim Burton Style
Beloved for its creepy style, Beetlejuice became ingrained as one of Tim Burton’s most iconic films. Known for pushing boundaries and drawing upon elements of the subconscious, Tim Burton has carried his unqiue aesthetic throughout his filmography – particularly recognisable within Edward Scissorhands, Corpse Bride and The Nightmare before Christmas. Constance Grady noted:
“Little by little, year after year, Burton’s stories seem to have floated away into a whimsical gothic fantasia, untethered to any sense of reality, where everything feels equally impossible and so its impossibility never becomes interesting. As his budgets have gotten bigger and CGI has grown ever-more ubiquitous, his aesthetic has made the same journey as his stories.”
Why did the Sequel Take 36 Years to Make?
Following the widespread success of the original Beetlejuice 36 years ago, audiences questioned why there was a prolonged delay in creating a sequel. Despite various high cash offers from various production companies, Burton didn’t feel a need to rush into the creation of the sequel nor was setting the project as a “sequel for loads of money.”
Winona Ryder, who plays the infamous Lydia Deetz, joked that the sequel took so long as they were waiting for Jenna Ortega to be born.
“And I think again, fate because we were waiting for Jenna to be born and grow up, and be the perfect age. Because she fits so beautifully into this puzzle, like she’s such an incredible, brilliant, addition and it’s just… I love her so much.”
The Risk with Sequels
Although Beetlejuice Beetlejuice has already grossed extreme numbers at the box office, creating a sequel to any beloved film comes with risks. Especially when it is released almost four decades later. Considering Beetlejuice is beloved among fans due to its innovative concept and weirdness that can only be delivered by Tim Burton, the idea of a sequel was worrying to fans.
Despite fears surrounding the return of Beetlejuice, critics and audiences alike are singing the praises of the legendary Tim Burton. With a whopping 77% Rotten Tomatoes score and a strong box office presence according to the BBC, audiences are open to a reinvention of the formula they know and love.
The Return of a Beloved Cast
One triumph for Beetlejuice Beetlejuce was the return of some familiar faces to the sequel. Winona Ryder described feeling “so spoiled to work with all these people. It was one of the more special experiences of my life.”
Catherine O’Hara who plays the cold stepmother Delia Deetz returned for the sequel, now playing a widow following the on-screen death of her husband Charles Deetz (Jeffrey Jones). Recognisable from Home Alone and Schitt’s Creek, O’Hara was an integral part of the Beetlejuice sequel, with fans praising her return to the Beetlejuice Universe.
Michael Keaton makes a return as Beetlejuice, describing the creation of the sequel as “the most fun I’ve had on set in a long time”.
Jenna Ortega and a New Generation of Beetlejuice Fans
Jenna Ortega joining the Beetlejuice cast was a key component to marketing the film for a new generation of audiences. From her Disney Channel days in Stuck in the Middle (2016) to her more prominent roles in The Fallout (2021) and Wednesday, Ortega’s experience has solidified her status as a film icon among Gen Z audiences.
Although some are offering mixed reviews of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, the whopping $145 million global box office intake indicates that audiences may be more open to sequels than expected.
