Warner Bros. is set to bring Beetlejuice II to hit theaters on September 6, 2024. Details regarding the plot remain under wraps, but multiple reports have provided information regarding the cast. Actor Michael Keaton will reprise the role of Beetlejuice and Wednesday star Jenna Ortega will play the role of Lydia Deetz’s daughter.
“After Barbara and Adam Maitland die in a car accident, they find themselves stuck haunting their country residence, unable to leave the house. When the unbearable Deetzes and teen daughter Lydia buy the home, the Maitlands attempt to scare them away without success. Their efforts attract Beetlejuice, a rambunctious spirit whose ‘help’ quickly becomes dangerous for the Maitlands and innocent Lydia,” the logline for the original film reads.
Directed by Tim Burton, the original Beetlejuice arrived in 1988 with performances from Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Jeffrey Jones and Winona Ryder. On a budget of approximately $15 million, the film reportedly brought in just under $75 million at the box office while earning generally favorable reviews.
“The story almost comes off the rails, but Beetlejuice’s charm lies more in the execution. The movie is crammed with visual invention and snappy comedy,” Steve Rose of The Guardian wrote.
“For sheer off-the-wall audacity, Tim Burton’s demented Beetlejuice certainly demands respect, even if it’s more enjoyable in concept than in execution,” David Ansen of Newsweek wrote.
Nearly 40 years later, Keaton and company will look to continue the horror comedy’s legacy.
