Beetlejuice 2 Is Bringing Back An Original Star
Catherine O'Hara has reportedly signed on for Beetlejuice 2.
Perhaps the only way to summon certain sequels is to keep saying their names. That may be exactly the case for Beetlejuice 2. The long-awaited follow up to the 1988 original–starring Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder among others–has reportedly signed on actress Catherine O’Hara to reprise her role as the eccentric sculptor Delia Deetz, according to The Direct.
Whispers of a Beetlejuice 2 have haunted Hollywood for nearly 35 years. O’Hara, who has been vocal about her willingness to return to her role for some time now, seems to be on board in a more official capacity than her casual musings. This is a step in the right direction for the troubled film.
Back in February 2022, Plan B, a production company owned by Brad Pitt, joined the fight to get Beetlejuice 2 up and running, with hopes that the sequel could shoot as early as this past summer. While the ambitious timeline was not met, the proposal indicates that the film’s development may not be as far behind as many believed. With a lot of major players involved, the production may simply need a way to make the stars align.
Perhaps the most important star is the scheming specter himself.
Michael Keaton wowed the world with his comically grotesque portrayal of Betelgeuse back in the late 80s. The actor has been in high demand since his triumphant return in 2014’s Academy Award-Winning Birdman. Keaton appeared as The Vulture in Spider-Man: Homecoming, worked with his old collaborator Tim Burton on Disney’s live-action remake of Dumbo, and is set to reprise his role as Batman in upcoming DC projects.
Set to return alongside Keaton and O’Hara is Winona Ryder as troubled goth girl Lydia. Winona Ryder is soon to be hard at work shooting the fifth and final season of Netflix’s monster hit Stranger Things. Then, of course, there is Tim Burton. The director of the original film would love to return, but has learned after a long career not to count his eggs before they hatch.
Perhaps that lesson is even more important when dealing with Beetlejuice 2.
According to Deadline, Burton recently addressed the Beetlejuice 2 rumors, stating that he never believes a film of his is getting made until he actually makes it to the set. Considering the tumultuous path many films take during the hard road to being made, Burton’s skepticism is well-earned. The director claims to have ideas regarding the sequel, but feels the project is still in an early stage.
Catherine O’Hara’s reported involvement sends a positive message to fans awaiting the return of the pin-striped hellion. It also raises questions. Can a story that sees the return of Keaton, Ryder, and O’Hara happen without the other ghostly stars of Beetlejuice, Geena Davis And Alec Baldwin?
Davis has concerns about her character, who died and returned as a ghost in the original film, aging as a spirit. Baldwin’s path forward is complicated by the highly publicized Rust shooting. Where there is a will, there is a way, and there is certainly a will to make a Beetlejuice 2.
