Beetlejuice 2 returns from the grave as Brad Pitt's production company breathes new life into the long-shelved sequel.
Confirmed by Deadline, an official follow-up to Tim Burton's cult-classic film is now in early development over at Plan B. Beyond its existence, nothing else is known about the project. It's currently unknown whether Burton will return to direct the sequel or whether Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder will reprise their roles. More information will likely be revealed in the coming months.
The road to Beetlejuice 2 has been a long one, fraught with production problems. Various writers and producers have been attached to the movie over the years with little to show in terms of progress. Discussions surrounding the sequel have swirled for several years, with members of the original crew split on whether it would ever come to fruition.
Keaton, who played the titular character in the original 1998 film, has previously stated that he's never been contacted about appearing in the movie but believes a sequel may not be the best idea. "The only way to do it is to do it right. So much of it was improvised and so much was beautifully handmade by the artist that is Tim Burton," the actor said. "If you can't get close to that, you leave it alone." Even Burton himself has previously cast doubt on the possibility of Beetlejuice 2. When asked whether he thought a sequel would ever be made, the director simply responded, "I don't know. I doubt it."
Seth Grahame-Smith, who was brought on board to re-write the script for Beetlejuice 2 in 2011, recently opened up about why he believes Warner Bros. shelved the film in 2019. "It’s funny, when I had met with Tim about it last, and we’re talking about five years ago at this point, the reason that it’s so hard to get going is because so many people love [Beetlejuice] and because there are 10 million ways to get that sequel wrong and four ways to get it right."
The original Beetlejuice tells the story of a recently deceased couple who are plagued by an annoying family that moves into their home. In an attempt to drive off the unwanted tenants, the ghosts hire Betelgeuse, a so-called "bio-exorcist," who makes life a nightmare for everyone involved.
Source: Deadline