Beetlejuice 2 On The Way

by Chris Vegvary

Those with an affinity for comedy films from the 1980’s, plus those of us who are just old enough to remember, will remember a popular little movie by the name of Beetlejuice, which starred Michael Keaton as a ghost who freelances as a bio-exorcist, which means that he helps other ghosts with any problems they may be having with the living…for a price. If you say his name three times, he appears and begins causing chaos wherever he happens to be.

It’s been a while since 1988, hasn’t it? Something like 26 years later, now we’re hearing talk of a sequel. Not that there was never a sequel planned back then, because there very much was: Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian. If that doesn’t sound like a terrible enough idea for you, then you should hear what the plot would have been. Ridiculous. Thankfully, that movie never got made, but then Warner Bros. decided in 2011 that the world was ready for another dose of Beetlejuice, and they hired a writer to start penning the script. The word is that not only is the script done, but Michael Keaton will be returning to play Beetlejuice, while Tim Burton will be returning to direct the film. Exciting, right? As long as there’s no tropical angle here, I might be inclined to be on board with it.

Winona Ryder, who played the character Lydia Deetz in the first film, has also mentioned the possibility of returning for the sequel, which would supposedly be in real-time, meaning that 26 or 27 years have passed since the first film in both reality and in the plot of the film. It’s not known yet whether Winona Ryder be returning or not, but even so, pop star Katy Perry has expressed an interest in playing the character. That might be nice for her, to be able to branch out more into films and whatnot.

Before I sign off here, I just wanted to fill all you Beetlejuice lovers in on something you may not have known. Were you aware that the original script was really violent, most likely R-rated? Things were very much less lighthearted and whimsical in the original version, and in it, Lydia also has a little sister who is brutally slaughtered by Beetlejuice, who in the form of a rabid squirrel. Just think about that next time you’re watching the movie. Oh, and by the way…Beetlejuice, Betelgeuse, Beatle Djuse.