Beetlejuice 2 Footage Reveals How Michael Keaton Returns & Beetlejuice’s Dead Wife

Summary

• Warner Bros. unveils a new look at
  Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
  at CinemaCon, teasing the return of Michael Keaton’s beloved character.
• The footage from the Tim Burton sequel shows off more of Winona Ryder’s return as well as new characters played by Jenna Ortega, Monica Belluci, and Justin Theroux.
• The footage reveals that Lydia is the one who summons Beetlejuice in the same attic from the original movie.

A new look at Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is revealed at CinemaCon, teasing more of what’s to come from the anticipated sequel. Released in 1988, Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice would go on to become a cult classic, telling the story of a recently-deceased couple who enlist the help of bio-exorcist Betelgeuse (Michael Keaton) to remove an unpleasant family from their home. Keaton is now poised to reprise his role in an upcoming sequel, which will also feature the return of Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara, and a new character played by Jenna Ortega.

Ahead of the Beetlejuice Beetlejuice release date later this year, Warner Bros. unveils new footage from the sequel at CinemaCon, for which Screen Rant is in attendance. The footage features Ryder’s Lydia and Ortega’s Astrid attending a funeral before it cuts to Lydia summoning Beetlejuice in an attic. Keaton’s character then rises out of the miniature town as featured in the original film. The footage features a first look at Monica Belluci’s character as Beetlejuice’s zombified wife, with Lydia asking, “The living and the dead – can they coexist?” The clip ends with a reveal of Justin Theroux’s character and Beetlejuice scaring him.

Will Beetlejuice 2 Recapture The Magic Of The Original?

Why The Tim Burton Sequel Is Looking Promising

It’s now been more than 35 years since the release of Beetlejuice, but love for the film remains strong. The original currently has an 86% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, with the audience score not far behind at 82%. While Burton has made a handful of well-liked films since Beetlejuice, including Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood, and Corpse Bride, the 1988 film remains a highlight of his career. With the original standing the test of time so well, it’s certainly fair to question whether the upcoming sequel will be able to recapture this same lightning in a bottle.

The Beetlejuice Beetlejuice cast is one reason to be excited about the new movie, with Keaton, Ryder, and O’Hara all returning. Ortega, too, thanks to her starring role in Wednesday and the Scream franchise, has become well-known for appearing in horror-themed projects. In addition to new characters played by Belluci and Theroux, Willem Dafoe also appears in the film as a deceased B-movie action star serving as a police officer in the afterlife.

As Keaton has previously attested and as is revealed in the latest look at the film, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is also returning to the practical filmmaking that gave the original such a unique visual style. This old school filmmaking could help to give the sequel visuals and a tone that not only feels nostalgic, but also helps to make everything feel more tactile and real. It remains to be seen whether Beetlejuice Beetlejuice will hit the same highs as the original, but the latest footage is certainly a promising sign.