There’s lots to look forward to with “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” including Jenna Ortega’s debut as the daughter of Lydia Deetz, played in the original “Beetlejuice” by Winona Ryder. Ryder herself will also return for the sequel, while Willem Dafoe will no doubt deliver a memorable turn as a former “B-movie action star” turned afterlife detective. But there’s no question many will be enticed by the prospect of seeing 72-year-old Michael Keaton return in the title role. The centerpiece of the original film, Keaton will surely provide the biggest nostalgia hit for 80s and 90s kids, who evidently shouldn’t be worried about the actor’s ability to play the role some 36 years after the first film.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Tim Burton described the process of Keaton donning the classic Beetlejuice costume and makeup as “a weird out-of-body experience,” adding:
“He just got back into it. It was kind of scary for somebody who was maybe not that overly interested in doing it. It was such a beautiful thing for me to see all the cast, but he, sort of like demon possession, just went right back into it.”
“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” has been a long time coming, with Burton and Keaton both hesitant to revisit the character unless they had the right story (which explains the director’s “somebody who was maybe not that overly interested in doing it” comment). What’s reassuring about this latest quote, however, is that Keaton was quite clearly committed to his return as Beetlejuice, and at this stage in his career, it’s not all that surprising that he’d be enough of a pro to simply pick up where he left off — especially since the character seemed to have been defined largely by Keaton’s own wild, off-kilter energy.
“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” opens in theaters on September 6, 2024.
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