Beetlejuice is one of Tim Burton’s most beloved works, and the picture that put the legendary director on the map. It was the 65-year-old’s second-ever outing in the director’s chair, and the 1988 dark comedy still lives on in the memory of his fans to this day.
Audiences have been desperate for a Beetlejuice sequel for decades, and it is finally happening. Beetlejuice 2 has a release date and will hit cinema screens in September 2024.
Sequel will Bring Back Beloved Characters and Introduce New Ones
It has taken 35 years, but viewers are finally going to get a chance to see Michael Keaton in arguably his most memorable role of all time. His part as the mischievous poltergeist in Beetlejuice has gone down in history, and it will be great to watch the 72-year-old in action in his black-and-white attire again. Beetlejuice 2 will feature a few other big names from the original as well, including Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara.
The new picture set for release in 2024 will also bring in several fresh faces to the cast to spruce things up and kickstart a new era. Jenna Ortega is one of the hottest stars on the planet now, and her addition will attract younger audiences. Willem Dafoe and Monica Bellucci will add some additional star power to the movie too.
Potential to Be More Successful Than Predecessor
Many people who went into the first Beetlejuice probably didn’t know what they were getting themselves into. Burton was fresh on the scene at this time and hadn’t had a chance to develop his iconic style yet. Even Keaton was fairly new to Hollywood at that point and hadn’t yet become the legend he is today. Still, the picture overcame these obstacles and was a critical and commercial success, earning $74 million from its $15 million production budget.
Beetlejuice 2 has the potential to be a much greater box-office sensation. Burton now has an army of followers who show up to watch all his pictures, regardless of what they are about. It will be buoyed by the popularity of the original as well, which is still present in mainstream culture. Newer audiences have heard of Beetlejuice thanks to related offerings such as the online casino site game of the same name. Beetlejuice Megaways features the famous poltergeist on the reels, attired in his instantly recognisable black-and-white suit.
The new offering also has all the right facets in place for a nostalgic title to enjoy success in the modern age. It has many of the aspects that made it a hit in the first place, such as the legacy characters. However, it will also introduce original players and themes to provide something new for audiences to enjoy. This is a model that has worked well for other franchises, such as Scream.
It was confirmed that Beetlejuice 2 was going ahead in 2022, with Burton directing an adaptation of Seth Grahame-Smith’s story. The movie is set for a September 6 release date in 2024, and it should have a successful box-office run in the lead-up to Halloween.