Michael Keaton Didn’t Want a Lot of Screen Time in ‘Beetlejuice 2,’ Nor Was the Character Made Politically Correct for 2024: ‘He’s More of an It’ Than a ‘He or a She’

As a lifelong movie buff who has seen more films than I can count, I must say that the return of Michael Keaton as Beetlejuice in Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” is nothing short of a delightful surprise! Having grown up watching the original 1988 classic, it’s heartening to see how Keaton has managed to preserve the essence of the character while also adding a new layer of depth and emotional resonance.

I’m thrilled to be stepping back into the chaotic shoes of Beetlejuice once more, as Tim Burton brings us the long-awaited sequel, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.” This film will premiere at the Venice Film Festival this month and hit theaters in September. In an interview with GQ magazine, I shared that one of my conditions for reprising the role was to ensure the sequel doesn’t overextend Beetlejuice’s screen time. After all, the original film only featured me for about 17 minutes back in 1988. However, the popularity of this character has skyrocketed since then, but that doesn’t mean I want Beetlejuice to become the main attraction in “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.”

Keaton mentioned that his return didn’t involve adding Beetlejuice, as doing so would ruin it. He explained that unlike the first film where Beetlejuice was more central to the plot, in this one he’s more integrated into the storyline, serving as a supporting character instead of being the main driver of the action.

The “Beetlejuice” follow-up brings Michael Keaton back together with Tim Burton, along with original stars Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara. Fresh faces joining the cast are Jenna Ortega and Willem Dafoe. The storyline focuses on the complicated bond between Ryder’s Lydia Deetz and her daughter, portrayed by Ortega as Astrid. Keaton mentioned during an interview with SiriusXM in March that the mother-daughter dynamic in this sequel lends it a more emotional depth compared to the original film.

“Keaton stated that the original was incredibly entertaining and visually stimulating. He added that the follow-up maintains that excitement, yet adds a touch of beauty and intriguingly emotional moments. He confessed he wasn’t expecting that depth, but appreciated it greatly.”

In addition to his other requirements for the sequel, Keaton wanted to prevent Beetlejuice from undergoing a sensitivity review to modernize him. According to GQ, “Regarding the character himself, there wasn’t much need for updating. Beetlejuice, a reckless deviant in 1988, remains a reckless deviant even in our more progressive time.”

Keaton stated, “He’s more of an entity than a person, he’s closer to an ‘it’. I’m not using ‘it’ for political correctness. I saw it as a powerful force rather than a person. There’s undeniably a strong masculine vibe, even a bit of clumsy masculinity, which I appreciate. It’s not like you can predict that its behavior will change just because it’s a new year.”

Earlier this year, Keaton shared with People magazine that working on the “Beetlejuice” sequel was one of the most enjoyable experiences he’s had on set in quite some time.

“Keaton expressed that while something might seem like it would be incredibly enjoyable at first glance, reality can sometimes be different. He and Tim had agreed early on to avoid projects with excessive technology, preferring a more organic feel. For them, revisiting a project after years of working in front of large screens, pretending conversations were happening face-to-face, was incredibly exhilarating and fun.”

“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” opens in theaters Sept. 6 from Warner Bros.

2024-08-20 01:50

Michael Keaton Didn’t Want a Lot of Screen Time in ‘Beetlejuice 2,’ Nor Was the Character Made Politically Correct for 2024: ‘He’s More of an It’ Than a ‘He or a She’

Read More

Minority Mindset