Beetlejuice / Betelgeuse, the mischievous demon played by Michael Keaton, is returning to the screens to scare a new generation of kids. The film Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, scheduled to release later this year, also features Tim Burton’s Wednesday fame Jenna Ortega. Interestingly, the much-experienced Keaton was in awe of the talent displayed by Ortega on the set of the fantasy horror comedy film.
The new film is penned by the writing duo of Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, based on a story by Seth Grahame-Smith. For the writers, the challenge was to carry the essence of the 1988 film but also make it relatable to modern audiences.
Michael Keaton Praises His New Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Castmate Jenna Ortega
Jenna Ortega confirmed to Vanity Fair last month that her role in Tim Burton‘s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice was that of the daughter of Winona Ryder‘s Lydia Deetz. The series will also feature returning actors like Michael Keaton and Catherine O’Hara. When Keaton attended the premiere of his new directorial venture, Knox Goes Away, he was asked about the upcoming Beetlejuice sequel and his new castmate, Jenna Ortega.
Keaton only had positive things to say about Ortega to Entertainment Tonight. The Spider-Man: Homecoming actor shared that Ortega was great in her role and revealed that she immediately captured the tone of the film as soon as she showed up on the sets. Keaton even went on to call Ortega “special” due to her incredible talents. The Batman actor shared with ET:
“Oh man, she’s good, she’s just got it, you know? She’s got the tone. She showed up and just immediately knew what the tone was and just slipped in like she does every day. She’s really special.”
According to the plot of the film, Ortega’s Astrid, daughter of Winona Ryder’s Lydia, discovers the mysterious model of the town in the Deetz family house’s attic (via Deadline). She accidentally opens the portal to the Afterlife and comes face to face with the mischievous demon played by Keaton. Besides Ortega, other new cast members in the series include Monica Bellucci, Arthur Conti, Justin Theroux, and Willem Dafoe.
The first look images of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice were released by Warner Bros. a few hours ago (via Deadline). Keaton is back in his element as the titular character with his grease-painted face and a fright wig. Another image also showed Ortega along with other members of the Deetz family.
Beetlejuice 2 Stars Michael Keaton And Jenna Ortega Sing Praises For Their Movie
Michael Keaton appeared in a recent interview on The Jess Cagle Show on SiriusXM and revealed that he watched the first cut of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. The Birdman actor shared that he was confident in saying that the film turned out to be great. He revealed that while he expected the film to be fun and visually exciting, he wasn’t ready for the emotional elements in the film.
Keaton added that he would watch it once again after it underwent minor tweaks in the editing room. The actor shared with The Jess Cagle Show:
“I’ve seen it now. I’m going to see it again after a couple of little tweaks in the editing room, and I confidently say this thing is great. The [original] was so fun and exciting visually. [The sequel is] all that but really beautiful and interestingly emotional here and there. I wasn’t ready for that. It’s great.”
While attending the Emmys red carpet, Jenna Ortega was asked about her experience acting in Beetlejuice 2. Speaking to ET, Ortega revealed that the film was “some of the most fun I’ve ever had on a set.” She also added that the film was “visually exciting.” She shared, “I felt so lucky to be there, it was insane … I can’t wait for people to see.”
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is scheduled to hit the big screens on September 6, 2024.
