Thirty-six years after Tim Burton and Michael Keaton collaborated on a classic supernatural comedy Beetlejuicethe duo reveals the sequel Beetlejuice Beetlejuice here at the Venice Film Festival. The sequel will have its world premiere tonight after being screened to the press this morning.
Burton was joined by his main cast, including Keaton, Jenna Ortega, Willem Dafoe, Monica Bellucci, Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara, when he met with reporters this morning.
Burton told the room that over the years the original Beetlejuice It was the film people asked him the most questions about, which often confused him.
“As much as I love it, I never understood why it was a hit,” Burton said of the original. Beetlejuice“I could never define this film as anything other than something personal. So after all these years of working with Michael, Winona and Catherine, I made this project even more personal and special, with Jenna, Monica, Justin and Willem, new people who became part of the spirit of the film. So it was a very personal project for me.”
Burton added that he had not watched the original Beetlejuice during the preparation of the sequel, because he did not define the project as a “sequel for a lot of money.”
“It’s a very personal film,” Burton said, adding that he simply channeled the “spirit” of the original film.
THE Beetlejuice Beetlejuice The story picks up as three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River after an unexpected tragedy. Still haunted by Beetlejuice, Lydia (Ryder) finds her life upended when her rebellious teenage daughter, Astrid (Ortega), discovers the mysterious model of the town in the attic and the portal to the afterlife is accidentally opened. With trouble brewing in both realms, it’s only a matter of time before someone says Beetlejuice’s name three times and the mischievous demon returns to unleash his own brand of chaos. Beetlejuice 2Keaton returns as the “Ghost with the Most,” joined by original series stars Ryder and O’Hara, as well as franchise newcomers Justin Theroux, Bellucci, Ortega and Dafoe.
“To say it’s unique is an understatement,” Keaton said of the film. “There are so few opportunities to be in something that’s 100 percent original and unique. Even Fellini or Kurosawa were influenced by something or somewhere.”
Keaton added: “And this casting. It could be better than the last one, which was impossible.”
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is Burton’s latest remake of the filmmaker’s film Wednesday on Netflix, starring Ortega. Burton told the crowd in Venice that the Netflix series had not particularly influenced his decision to revisit BeetlejuiceHe said he has discussed a sequel with Keaton and Ryder over the years. He did, however, say he feels “invigorated” by the series’ success.
“I’ve been disillusioned with the movie business for the last few years, so I knew if I was going to do something, I had to do it with my heart,” he said. “I got a little lost, so this movie re-energized me. I got back to what I love and worked with the people I love. With this one, the outcome didn’t matter. I just enjoyed doing it with these people.”
When asked if he would be interested in directing a third Beetlejuice, Burton’s response was jovial but definitive: “Let’s do the math. It took me 35 years to do it. For another, I’d be over 100. It might be possible with medical science. But I don’t think so.”
The Warner Bros. title is screening out of competition at Venice and will begin its international rollout on September 4, followed by North America on September 6.
Venice opens its doors tonight and continues until September 7th.
