As fans gear up for the release of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Michael Keaton is diving back into one of his most iconic roles. The sequel, set to hit theaters this Friday, marks the return of Keaton as the mischievous, chaos-loving trickster demon, Beetlejuice. Directed by Tim Burton, this horror-comedy sequel arrives decades after the original 1988 film, making it the second time in recent years that Keaton has revisited one of his legendary characters—he donned the cape as Batman in The Flash just last year.
New Teaser for Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”, starring Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, Jenna Ortega, Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci, and Willem Dafoe. In theaters today. #BeetlejuiceBeetlejuice #Beetlejuice pic.twitter.com/dLpco0j3yl
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Keaton’s Beetlejuice holds a special place in cinema, a character created in collaboration with Burton and entirely distinct from his other roles. Beetlejuice is a wild, unpredictable figure who terrorized both the living and the dead in his pursuit of marrying a teenage Lydia Deetz (played by Winona Ryder). Despite the fun Keaton had playing the role in the original, he admits he had some nerves about revisiting the character so many years later.
“I’m so excited. Then I’m like, ‘Hold on a minute. I don’t know if I can do this again,’” Keaton shared. To prepare, he rewatched the original Beetlejuice, a rare move for the actor who prefers not to overanalyze his comedic roles. Much to his delight, he found himself laughing at the film and his performance, surprised at how much fun he had.
One of Keaton’s favorite memories from filming the original includes the scene where Beetlejuice, frustrated after being rejected by a recently deceased couple, kicks over a model tree and shouts, “Nice (expletive) model,” punctuated by a crotch grab. Another fond memory involves a faux TV ad where Beetlejuice, dressed as a cowboy, ropes a fake cow and hilariously sings, “Come on down and I’ll chew on a dog!” Keaton revealed that this improvised line was inspired by a Southern California car salesman, Cal Worthington, whom both he and Burton remembered fondly.
Keaton’s rewatch paid off. On the first day of filming the sequel, director Tim Burton was amazed by how effortlessly Keaton slipped back into the role. “It was like demon possession,” Burton said. “He just did it.” Fellow cast member Catherine O’Hara, who reprises her role from the original film, was equally impressed, joking that Keaton hadn’t aged since Beetlejuice is “always dead.” Burton chimed in, adding humorously, “Just got a little moldier.”
Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Catherine O’Hara, Justin Theroux, and director Tim Burton talk about Jenna Ortega in the role of nihilistic daughter Astrid Deetz in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. https://t.co/YnI7Gqax93
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Keaton’s return to the character was as smooth as it was thrilling, leaving fans excited to see what new chaos Beetlejuice will unleash in the long-awaited sequel. With Tim Burton at the helm and the beloved cast reunited, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice promises to bring back the eccentric magic of the original while introducing a fresh dose of spooky, comedic fun.
Key Points:
i. Michael Keaton returns as Beetlejuice in the new sequel, set to release on Friday.
ii. Despite initial nerves, Keaton found himself laughing while rewatching the original Beetlejuice in preparation.
iii. Memorable scenes from the 1988 film, like the “Nice (expletive) model” moment, are still favorites for Keaton.
iv. Director Tim Burton was amazed at how effortlessly Keaton slipped back into character, likening it to “demon possession.”
v. The Beetlejuice sequel promises to revive the eccentric and chaotic energy of the original, with Keaton leading the way.
TL Holcomb – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
