For the second outing in his beloved franchise, Tim Burton picked up where he had left off with the world of Beetlejuice after a long gap of 36-years. Yet, even with such a gap, the director still seems reluctant to commit to just when-or indeed if-a third entry might come. Success for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice was in no small measure insured as it opened to a gigantic worldwide weekend box office of $145.4 million-more than double the lifetime earnings of the first film. Success like this automatically engenders speculation about future installments. However, Tim Burton himself seems less sure about the franchise’s future. When asked about the possibility for another sequel, Burton was reportedly skeptical.
What Did Tim Burton Tell About A Potential Beetlejuice 3?
Winona Ryder and Michael Keaton in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Image Credit; Warner Bros. Pictures
Tim Burton made his career in a signature style that was unmistakably peculiar and gothic, and there was perhaps no film more synonymous with that than Beetlejuice. As such, one would think a third Beetlejuice film would be an offer he couldn’t refuse. But when asked about revisiting the ghostly misadventures, Burton sounded less than enthused.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the 66-year-old Tim Burton seemed very unsure about revisiting the Beetlejuice universe anytime soon. He mentioned the very extended time between the original and the possible new installment, saying jokingly that at the pace they are going, he could hopefully be 100 years old by the time it finally does. His words were, “Well, if this time frame goes on, I’ll be about 100. So maybe. I doubt it.”
In another interview with Slash Film, even when the possibilities of a third Beetlejuice film were brought up again, Burton’s tone was equally unconvinced. He gave a more philosophical and honest reason as to why, although talks of a sequel may happen, he himself feels disconnected from returning to such a franchise. Burton said, “Yeah, I mean, they talk, whatever, but if it follows the model now, I’d be making that one, I’d be over 100… but no, I mean, like I said, for me, I wasn’t really personally interested. If you said it to me, I would run the other direction.”
But Michael Keaton, who so indelibly brought Beetlejuice to life, seems rather more positive about the possibility of a sequel. According to Fandango, Keaton has said that though long opposed-along with Burton-to the idea of tampering with perfection, recent events have changed their minds. He said that for years, they had protected the film, believing it stood on its own as a creation unto itself. But after years of talking about it, something within the new possible story piqued their interest.
Keaton said, “For a long time, [Burton] and I had said don’t touch it. Just leave it alone, let it be its own thing, and it took us such a long time to find something where we thought: ‘Yeah, maybe this one’. But I always thought the second one should’ve been called Beetlejuice Beetlejuice; it just made sense.“
There may still be a slight crack in the door open for a third Beetlejuice movie, but the key people in that regard would include Burton, Keaton, even Winona Ryder and so on.
Without them, the magic and personal artistry of the original are simply not there. Plus, since Jenna Ortega has gained popularity for her work in horror these days, she could become a key figure should a sequel happen. The challenge was in aligning the vision of all involved with a story that felt fresh yet true to the spirit of the original.
How Beetlejuice 2 Sets Up The Way For A Potential Beetlejuice 3?
Beetlejuice 2. Image Credit: Warner bros. Pictures
The ending of Beetlejuice 2 is a beautiful combination of the definitive and the ambiguous, befitting the slippery nature of the titular bio-exorcist himself. While the film closes rather neatly, it definitely leaves a tantalizing hint toward what may be to come in the future.
The climax of the film has Lydia Deetz, played by Winona Ryder, and her daughter Astrid finally team up to defeat Betelgeuse once and for all. With a cunning trick, they send him off to his afterlife exile, very much in the style of a hanging judge. The film’s epilogue shows Lydia to still be haunted by the mischievous ghost.
This persistence of Beetlejuice onscreen does several things: it adds to a light-hearted touch for the ending of this movie and allows for further adventures to come. Such a recurring dream for Lydia suggests that the fear of Beetlejuice is not fully defeated, which opens the door for a sequel.
While Tim Burton has ruled out Beetlejuice 3, with the power of two originals that enjoyed such a huge following, it’s hard to conceive this series lying dormant forever. The Beetlejuice franchise combined three very different elements: humor, horror, and heart. Melding these elements, the audiences have remained in a hypnotic trance over these many years, and a new outing could give the much-loved characters a modern look.
It is alluded to, in fact, at the ending of Beetlejuice 2; the story involving Lydia Deetz and Beetlejuice is nowhere near its conclusion. Whatever may come of a third film, it will seem culturally evident, for now it is that the character somehow sustains a presence in Lydia’s dreams, making sure the ghostly presence will be a continuing factor, always haunting those boundaries between life and death.
Having a sequel that takes 36 years from the original Beetlejuice, it is rather unlikely that the studio will want to wait that long again. Involving Michael Keaton and Tim Burton into the sequel can be an added pressure since these two are considered iconic entities with the franchise. Thus, moving on a quicker production schedule will help in making certain that they can continue the relationship.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is in theaters.
