After many years of rumors, a “Beetlejuice” sequel appears to be finally becoming a real thing, with Warner Bros. Pictures confirming at CinemaCon the other week that “Beetlejuice 2” is on their slate.
Now, the original film’s composer Danny Elfman has talked a bit about the sequel and from his comments, it would indicate not only is it happening, but it’s also happening soon.
Speaking with Deadline, Elfman says he expects the film to start shooting in the next couple of months and when it does he’ll be “a fly on the wall” during filming as he loves hanging out on a set and it is “very exciting, to return to that world”.
This would appear to confirm reports from back in March that indicated Tim Burton would direct and Michael Keaton would return as the character with a film shoot eyeing a late May/early June start in London. Whether that date will still hold with the ongoing writer’s strike remains to be seen.
Elfman also revealed that someone recently asked him, “Really, after all these years? Michael Keaton?,” to which he responded:
“I said, ‘He’s not even going to look that much different. That’s the beauty of the Beetlejuice makeup. He already looked like he was 150 in the first one.’ It’s perfect, you know? Everybody else has to play the next generation, except for Michael. I mean, he’s still like really fit and really active and really on it. And with the Beetlejuice makeup, I can’t even imagine it’s going to look like he’s changed practically at all. So, I can’t wait for that.”
Jenna Ortega has also been rumored for the project, whilst it’s not clear if any other stars from the original will come back. Burton is expected to helm from a script by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar after the trio’s recent success with Netflix’s “Wednesday” series.
