Summary

• 

  Beetlejuice 2, the long-awaited sequel to the 1988 hit, is finally in production after years of development.
• The film will focus on the human connection and explore the intricacies of keeping a family together against a backdrop of Michael Keaton's Beetlejuice being up to his old antics.
• The original cast, including Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder, will be returning, along with new cast members such as Monica Bellucci and Willem Dafoe.

It's been decades since audiences last saw the ghost with the most, but Beetlejuice 2 is finally on the way. The 1988 hit was a blend of horror and pitch-black comedy, mixed with Burton’s unique visual style, which provided both Winona Ryder and Michael Keaton with career-defining roles. Beetlejuice would spawn a long-running animated series, a number of video games, and a Broadway musical. In 2011, Seth Grahame-Smith was hired to write a script for Beetlejuice 2, but the sequel has been in development hell ever since.

Tim Burton said he would direct Beetlejuice 2 under the "right circumstances" back in 2016, but nothing came of the news. Another fairly recent Beetlejuice 2 update involves Mike Vukadinovich, who was hired in late 2017 to rewrite the script. Later, in March 2022, it was announced that Brad Pitt's company Plan B Entertainment was reportedly heading the sequel's production, with Keaton and Ryder returning as Beetlejuice and Lydia, respectively. After decades of waiting, Beetlejuice 2 is finally happening.

Latest Beetlejuice 2 News

An Exclusive Clip Premieres At CinemaCon

Though it isn't available to view by the public at large, the latest news sees exclusive footage of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice premiere at CinemaCon. The clips show Astrid and the rest of the Deetz family attending a funeral before cutting to a scene in which Lydia brings Keaton's Beetlejuice back to the land of the living where they meet his undead wife (Monica Bellucci). From descriptions, it appears as if much of the new footage wasn't featured in the trailer, and fans have yet to see what Bellucci's character even looks like. It's unclear if more trailers will be released before the September release date.

Beetlejuice 2 Release Date

Beetlejuice 2 Arrives In September

The Beetlejuice 2 release date is September 6, 2024. However, the production of the film was temporarily delayed by the SAG/AFTRA strike, and it is unclear if that setback will affect the release date. Beetlejuice 2 was originally slated to open alongside the new Blade movie, but the MCU action film has since moved its release date.

The SAG/AFTRA strike was resolved on November 9th, 2023.

Beetlejuice 2 Cast Members

The New & Returning Stars Of Beetlejuice 2

While Michael Keaton's return was the biggest necessity for the Beetlejuice 2 cast, the sequel's ensemble is shaping up nicely. After a lot of rumors and speculation, it was confirmed that Jenna Ortega's character is Lydia's daughter Astrid, and she will clash with her parents much in the same way Lydia did in the past. Given that news, it is not surprising that Winona Ryder has also been confirmed to return as Lydia. Catherine O'Hara will return in Beetlejuice 2 too, reprising her role as Lydia's stylish mother, Delia Deetz.

Along with the returning cast members, there are several big names joining that cast. Willem Dafoe will join the Beetlejuice 2 cast as a former B-movie actor who is a detective in the afterlife. Though details aren't known, Monica Bellucci will play Beetlejuice's wife in the Beetlejuice 2 cast. Another new cast member for the sequel is Justin Theroux, who will play the mysterious role of Rory. Unfortunately, Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis won't return in Beetlejuice 2 as Adam and Barbara Maitland.

The cast of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice includes:

Related: It's Showtime! Beetlejuice 2: New & Returning Cast Guide

Beetlejuice 2 Story Details

The Ghost With The Most's Return

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice has been shrouded in mystery since the project was formally announced, and only small details were revealed about the movie's plot. However, along with the first teaser trailer, the full synopsis for the 1980s legacy sequel has been revealed, and it is an intriguing mix of old and new. A family tragedy brings the Deetz family back to Winter River, and Lydia's rebellious teenage daughter Astrid is set to accidentally unleash the infamous bio-exorcist just like her mother did. Read the full synopsis below:

Beetlejuice is back! After an unexpected family tragedy, three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River. Still haunted by Beetlejuice, Lydia's life is turned upside down when her rebellious teenage daughter, Astrid, discovers the mysterious model of the town in the attic and the portal to the Afterlife is accidentally opened. With trouble brewing in both realms, it's only a matter of time until someone says Beetlejuice's name three times and the mischievous demon returns to unleash his very own brand of mayhem.

What's Happened Between Beetlejuice And Beetlejuice 2

The Sequel Has A Lot Of Catching Up To Do

Even though Lydia was just a teenager in the original Beetlejuice, she'll be in her 50s in Beetlejuice 2, and in the time between the two movies, she had a daughter, who will be played by Jenna Ortega. Lydia's daughter will likely be just like the teenager Lydia, as Ortega has become somewhat typecast as the go-to moody horror protagonist.

Monica Bellucci will play Beetlejuice's wife in Beetlejuice 2, and it seems as if they have been married for a while, as opposed to being newlyweds. How long they have been married is unknown, but given that the bio-exorcist has been desperately looking for a bride since 1988, it might not have been too long after the events of the first movie when they got hitched.

Beetlejuice 2 Trailer

Watch The First Teaser Below

Shortly after images began to surface of the new Tim Burton film, the first trailer for Beetlejuice 2 was released by Warner Bros. While it may not be heavy on story or plot details, the brief teaser does show off the return of several original cast members, including Winona Ryder's Lydia and Catherine O'Hara's Delia Deetz. Meanwhile, the teaser also introduces Jenna Ortega's rebellious teen Astrid and even hearkens back to a few details from the original. Most importantly, Michael Keaton's eponymous character appears briefly, spouting one of his signature catchphrases.

• 

  Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

  Release Date:

  2024-09-06

  Director:

  Tim Burton

  Cast:

  Michael Keaton, Jenna Ortega, Winona Ryder, Monica Bellucci, Willem Dafoe, Justin Theroux, Catherine O'Hara

  Rating:

  Not Yet Rated

  Genres:

  Comedy, Supernatural

  Writers:

  Mike Vukadinovich

  Studio(s):

  KatzSmith Productions, Tim Burton Productions, Warner Bros. Pictures, Plan B Entertainment

  Distributor(s):

  Warner Bros. Pictures