Jenna Ortega is among the troupe of new-gen Hollywood faces who’ve offered audiences a glimpse into their acting chops, with the potential for much more.
Having dipped her toes in mainstream waters in the past few years, the actress’ filmography already boasts some incredible credits, especially within the bounds of horror films. The list includes Scream, Scream VI, X, Netflix’s Wednesday, and the upcoming Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, a sequel to Tim Burton’s 1988 classic.
Bearing witness to the 21-year-old star’s on-screen proficiency is the cast of the fantasy horror comedy, graced by the likes of Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, etc. Previously, O’Hara had gushed about the young talent. And much recently, even Keaton echoed similar sentiments, evidently impressed by Ortega’s on-set panache.
With the exalt the Batman star offered the actress, who has been hailed by many as the scream queen of her generation, it’s no wonder she seems tailor-made for the genre.
Michael Keaton Has Nothing But Praises For Beetlejuice 2 Co-Star Jenna Ortega
Jenna Ortega—for whom Beetlejuice Beetlejuice won’t be a first-time collaboration with Tim Burton, having worked on Wednesday before—has stunned veteran actor Michael Keaton with her exuberance. The Birdman star was also perceptive of the actress’s ability to blend in and how she instantly matched the tone of the soon-to-be-released film as soon as she showed up on set.
His outpouring of compliments came as he spoke to ET at the Knox Goes Away premiere:
“Oh man, she’s [Jenna Ortega] good, she’s just got it, you know? She’s got the tone. She showed up and … immediately knew what the tone was and just slipped in like she does every day. She’s really special.”
In the upcoming movie, Ortega is set to play the role of Astrid Deetz, the daughter of Winona Ryder’s Lydia Deetz. Besides the returning stars of the first film gracing the endeavor, new additions to the cast, besides the Wednesday star, are Monica Bellucci, Willem Dafoe, and Justin Theroux.
Given her extensive background in horror (and comedic horror), it’s hardly surprising that Ortega did an excellent job adapting to the tone and mood of Burton’s Beetlejuice sequel. Her proficiency in embodying different roles in the genre has constantly impressed viewers.
Although the extent and depth of her character cannot yet be discerned, we can ascertain that the young star’s unbridled talent will shine through nonetheless—especially if the testimonies of her co-stars are to be believed.
Jenna Ortega Teased A Glance Into Her Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Character
As excitement continues to bubble for the Burton-helmed project, eager audiences have wondered what to expect from Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. With much shrouded in secrecy, they’ve turned to the actors and their statements, which tease a few details helpful enough to gather the puzzle pieces, even if there’s some time before we see the bigger picture.
Offering a momentary glance into what her character could be like (besides being Lydia’s daughter, of course), Jenna Ortega told Vanity Fair:
“She’s weird, but in a different way and not in the way you’d assume, I would say.”
That’s vague, but it’s something!
What the actress did stress, though, was the character’s relationship with her mother, played by the timeless Winona Ryder:
“The relationship between Lydia (Ryder) and Astrid … is very important. And it’s also really strange because it’s a lot of catching up and putting the pieces together of what’s gone on in Lydia’s life since, which is nice … for anybody who loves the character and is excited to see her again.”
It’ll be intriguing to see what this mother-daughter dynamic offers to the overarching premise. Most fans are merely excited to see whether or not the sequel upholds the brilliantly bizarre legacy of the first movie, which was both a critical and commercial success.
Nevertheless, the upcoming Tim Burton-directed film, with a screenplay by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar based on a story by Seth Grahame-Smith, remains one of the most anticipated 2024 releases.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is scheduled to hit the theatres on September 6, 2024. Meanwhile, the first film can be purchased or rented on Amazon Prime Video.
