UPDATED 5/9, 8 p.m. ET: Warner Brothers officially announced the release date of the sequel to the Halloween classic Beetlejuice. The film will hit the big screen on Labor Day weekend next year, Sept. 6, 2024. Production begins this week in London.
Deadline reports that Justin Theroux (The Leftovers) has joined the cast, and confirmed Jenna Ortega (Wednesday) is not only in the cast, but playing the daughter of Winona Ryder’s Lydia Beetz character from the 1988 original. Details about Theroux’s role is currently under wraps.
In addition to Ryder’s return, Michael Keaton, 71, will reprise his legendary Beetlejuice role.
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Finally, after years of false starts, it sounds like a Beetlejuice sequel is very much going to happen. Not only that, but Jenna Ortega could star in the long-awaited return to one of director Tim Burton’s most beloved worlds.
On Thursday night, the Hollywood Reporter cited sources as saying that Ortega was now “circling a role” in the sequel to the 1988 horror comedy starring Michael Keaton as the title character and Winona Ryder as Lydia Deetz. Although nothing has been officially announced, the report adds that Ortega would take on the role of the daughter to Ryder’s character from the original film.
Burton and Keaton are also believed to be returning, with THR claiming production could being as early as this May.
Ortega, of course, starred last year in Netflix’s Wednesday series, which saw its first four episodes helmed by Burton. Speaking with Karla Rodriguez for Complex in November, Ortega commended Burton as “an actor’s director,” an approach she described as a rarity in the industry.
“I feel so lucky,” she said at the time. “He’s honestly such a sweet person and an incredible collaborator. He’s an actor’s director. He knows the way to communicate with people and I think I felt this overwhelming sense of trust and just partnership with him.”
Complex has reached out to a rep for Ortega for comment about the Beetlejuice 2 news. This story may be updated. In the meantime, go see Scream VI at your local theater and be sure to catch Ortega’s first-ever SNL hosting stint this weekend with musical guests The 1975.
